Autism & ADHD: Unique Brain Connectivity | Study
- A large-scale analysis of brain imaging data reveals that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), while frequently enough co-occurring, exhibit different patterns of brain connectivity. The...
- ASD affects an estimated 1 to 3 percent of the global population, while ADHD affects 5 to 7 percent.
- The study, conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and King's College London, examined communication patterns between different brain regions in over 12,700 children and adolescents...
Study Finds Distinct Brain Connectivity Signatures in Autism and ADHD
A large-scale analysis of brain imaging data reveals that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), while frequently enough co-occurring, exhibit different patterns of brain connectivity. The research, published in Nature Mental Health, could lead to better diagnostic tools and therapies for these neurodevelopmental conditions.
ASD affects an estimated 1 to 3 percent of the global population, while ADHD affects 5 to 7 percent. Individuals with autism may experience challenges in social dialog, exhibit repetitive behaviors, and show heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli. ADHD is characterized by hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention.
The study, conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and King’s College London, examined communication patterns between different brain regions in over 12,700 children and adolescents diagnosed with either autism, ADHD, or both. The team’s statistical analysis focused on areas such as the thalamus and putamen, as well as networks involved in attention, emotions, and self-awareness.
The findings indicate that autism is associated with reduced connectivity between the thalamus, putamen, and certain attention networks. Conversely, ADHD is linked to stronger connections in these same regions. Both autism and ADHD showed hyperconnectivity between the default mode and dorsal attention networks.
“Autism traits and diagnosis were associated with reduced connectivity between the thalamus, putamen, salience/ventral attention and frontoparietal networks, whereas ADHD traits showed the opposite pattern,” wrote Norman, Sudre and their colleagues.
Luke J. Norman and Gustavo Sudre, along with their colleagues, noted in their paper that it remains unclear whether autism and ADHD share common neurobiological foundations. Their research suggests that despite frequent co-occurrence, the two conditions have distinct neural signatures.
What’s next
These findings may inform future research on the co-occurrence of autism and ADHD, potentially guiding the development of diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies that address the different functional connectivity patterns underlying each condition.