scholarly journals Early childhood deprivation is associated with alterations in adult brain structure despite subsequent environmental enrichment

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (1) ◽  
pp. 641-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuria K. Mackes ◽  
Dennis Golm ◽  
Sagari Sarkar ◽  
Robert Kumsta ◽  
Michael Rutter ◽  
...  

Early childhood deprivation is associated with higher rates of neurodevelopmental and mental disorders in adulthood. The impact of childhood deprivation on the adult brain and the extent to which structural changes underpin these effects are currently unknown. To investigate these questions, we utilized MRI data collected from young adults who were exposed to severe deprivation in early childhood in the Romanian orphanages of the Ceaușescu era and then, subsequently adopted by UK families; 67 Romanian adoptees (with between 3 and 41 mo of deprivation) were compared with 21 nondeprived UK adoptees. Romanian adoptees had substantially smaller total brain volumes (TBVs) than nondeprived adoptees (8.6% reduction), and TBV was strongly negatively associated with deprivation duration. This effect persisted after covarying for potential environmental and genetic confounds. In whole-brain analyses, deprived adoptees showed lower right inferior frontal surface area and volume but greater right inferior temporal lobe thickness, surface area, and volume than the nondeprived adoptees. Right medial prefrontal volume and surface area were positively associated with deprivation duration. No deprivation-related effects were observed in limbic regions. Global reductions in TBV statistically mediated the observed relationship between institutionalization and both lower intelligence quotient (IQ) and higher levels of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms. The deprivation-related increase in right inferior temporal volume seemed to be compensatory, as it was associated with lower levels of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms. We provide compelling evidence that time-limited severe deprivation in the first years of life is related to alterations in adult brain structure, despite extended enrichment in adoptive homes in the intervening years.

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-283
Author(s):  
Mihail Silviu Tudosie ◽  
Elena Truta ◽  
Ana Maria Davitoiu ◽  
Luminita Stanciulescu ◽  
George Jinescu ◽  
...  

During one year (september 2013 � september 2014), 50 children from the residential institution for children SOS Satele Copiilor Bucharest, where included in our research. The children were distributed in two groups: Group A which consisted of 25 children (12 girls, 13 boys) who were not diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Group B which consisted of 25 children (14 boys, 11 girls) who were diagnosed with ADHD. Initially, the two groups were subjected at a psycho-diagnostic battery of tests, one of them being the Evaluating the Health State of children with ADHD questionnaire elaborated by us, particularly for this research, with the purpose of highlighting the direct link between the children health state and their ADHD symptoms. This study sought to determine the concentration of copper in urine samples from a group of children with ADHD and a group of normal children, to highlight the role of copper in the development of ADHD symptoms. Levels of copper concentration in urine samples from the two groups were processed by Student�s t-Test. Statistical analysis showed that the arithmetic averages of copper concentration in urine samples, of the two groups do not differ significantly, so copper may be causing ADHD symptoms occur. The copper content in urine samples has been determined using atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Santosh K. Yadav ◽  
Ajaz A. Bhat ◽  
Sheema Hashem ◽  
Sabah Nisar ◽  
Madeeha Kamal ◽  
...  

AbstractAttention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological and neurodevelopmental childhood-onset disorder characterized by a persistent pattern of inattentiveness, impulsiveness, restlessness, and hyperactivity. These symptoms may continue in 55–66% of cases from childhood into adulthood. Even though the precise etiology of ADHD is not fully understood, it is considered as a multifactorial and heterogeneous disorder with several contributing factors such as heritability, auxiliary to neurodevelopmental issues, severe brain injuries, neuroinflammation, consanguineous marriages, premature birth, and exposure to environmental toxins. Neuroimaging and neurodevelopmental assessments may help to explore the possible role of genetic variations on ADHD neuropsychobiology. Multiple genetic studies have observed a strong genetic association with various aspects of neuropsychobiological functions, including neural abnormalities and delayed neurodevelopment in ADHD. The advancement in neuroimaging and molecular genomics offers the opportunity to analyze the impact of genetic variations alongside its dysregulated pathways on structural and functional derived brain imaging phenotypes in various neurological and psychiatric disorders, including ADHD. Recently, neuroimaging genomic studies observed a significant association of brain imaging phenotypes with genetic susceptibility in ADHD. Integrating the neuroimaging-derived phenotypes with genomics deciphers various neurobiological pathways that can be leveraged for the development of novel clinical biomarkers, new treatment modalities as well as therapeutic interventions for ADHD patients. In this review, we discuss the neurobiology of ADHD with particular emphasis on structural and functional changes in the ADHD brain and their interactions with complex genomic variations utilizing imaging genetics methodologies. We also highlight the genetic variants supposedly allied with the development of ADHD and how these, in turn, may affect the brain circuit function and related behaviors. In addition to reviewing imaging genetic studies, we also examine the need for complementary approaches at various levels of biological complexity and emphasize the importance of combining and integrating results to explore biological pathways involved in ADHD disorder. These approaches include animal models, computational biology, bioinformatics analyses, and multimodal imaging genetics studies.


2014 ◽  
Vol 205 (4) ◽  
pp. 291-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cédric Galéra ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Pingault ◽  
Grégory Michel ◽  
Manuel-Pierre Bouvard ◽  
Maria Melchior ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe impact of longitudinal psychiatric comorbidity, parenting and social characteristics on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication use is still poorly understood.AimsTo assess the baseline and longitudinal influences of behavioural and environmental factors on ADHD medication use.MethodSurvival regressions with time-dependent covariates were used to model data from a population-based longitudinal birth cohort. The sample (n = 1920) was assessed from age 5 months to 10 years. Measures of children's psychiatric symptoms, parenting practices and social characteristics available at baseline and during follow-up were used to identify individual and family-level features associated with subsequent use of ADHD medication.ResultsUse of ADHD medication ranged from 0.2 to 8.6% between ages 3.5 to 10 years. Hyperactivity–inattention was the strongest predictor of medication use (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.75, 95% CI 2.35–3.22). Among all social variables examined, low maternal education increased the likelihood of medication use (HR = 2.09, 95% CI 1.38–3.18) whereas immigrant status lowered this likelihood (HR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.17–0.92).ConclusionsBeyond ADHD symptoms, the likelihood of receiving ADHD medication is predicted by social variables and not by psychiatric comorbidity or by parenting. This emphasises the need to improve global interventions by offering the same therapeutic opportunities (including medication) as those received by the rest of the population to some subgroups (i.e. immigrants) and by diminishing possible unnecessary prescriptions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Nugrahini Indra Umratun Wakhaj ◽  
Nurul Hidayati Rofiah

The behavior of primary school-age students today is very diverse, one of these behaviors are children who are very difficult to manage, can not be silent and as if not paying attention to the lessons in the classroom. These children usually experience emotional and behavioral disorders in its development of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). This study aims to describe the behavior and impact of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the learning process in grade 4 students of SD Negeri Gejayan.This type of research is a type of Descriptive Qualitative research, with data collection techniques of observation, interview, and doumentation. The subjects in this research are DA fourth graders of SD Negeri Gejayan. While the data analysis techniques using data reduction, data presentation, and conclusions.The results showed that there was Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) behavior in the learning process in Grade IV of Gejayan State Elementary School which consisted of three behaviors: inattensi, hyperactive and impulsive behavior. The impact of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) behavior affects three aspects including (1) impact on learning process or education, (2) impact on student's behavior in learning process and, (3) impact to social aspect of student in process learning.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. e35-e35
Author(s):  
Jean-Francois Lemay ◽  
Julie-Anne Lemay ◽  
Hanna Kubas

Abstract BACKGROUND Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that often negatively impacts behaviour, cognition, and learning. Stimulant medications are the most commonly used treatment for ADHD, with informant reports (e.g., parent questionnaires, surveys) frequently used to evaluate medication impact on behavioural and academic functioning in affected children. OBJECTIVES To determine parental perceptions of medication impact on behaviour and learning in a long-acting methylphenidate (LA-MPH) trial of their children with ADHD. DESIGN/METHODS A randomized controlled LA-MPH medication trial was conducted with children ages 8–12 with a diagnosis of ADHD. Trial began with one-week of baseline assessment, followed by a randomized three-week standard of care medication trial, and a one-week best dose assessment. Following the conclusion of the study (6 months to 2 years’ range post-treatment), families were asked to participate in a voluntary follow-up phone survey to evaluate parental perceptions on child’s behaviour and learning. RESULTS A total of 34/42 (81%) families participated (male to female ratio: 2.1/1). At the time of the follow-up survey, 53% (18/34) and 68% (23/34) of patients were having “difficulty” or “significant difficulty” with their behaviour and learning, respectively. Twenty-three patients (68%) were still on psycho-stimulant medications. Although parents of those 23 children said LA-MPH had in general “significant” or “very significant” impact on their child’s behaviour (87%) and learning (79%), these parents were still reporting challenges with behaviour (52%) and learning (61%) at follow-up. In addition, parents of children not on medication said that their current child’s behaviour and learning was still having the same or more challenging issues (82% and 73% respectively). CONCLUSION Overall, parents reported that medication significantly impacted their child’s behaviour and learning; however, long-term medication impact appears less effective. Thus, an ongoing relationship with families and paediatricians is recommended to better understand the impact of medication on behaviour and learning. Evaluating the effects of medication on behaviour and learning may ultimately lead to targeted intervention that help foster long-term treatment efficacy for children with ADHD.


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