scholarly journals Altered Functional Connectivity in a Triple-Network Model in Autism With Co-occurring Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Wang ◽  
Ke Li ◽  
Xiaoyu Niu

Purpose: This study aimed to explore alterations in functional connectivity (FC) within and between default mode network (DMN), central executive network, and salience network in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with co-occurring attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Method: A total of 135 individuals' date of the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange II was used to compare the ASD+ADHD group with the ASD group in relation to the abnormal within-network and between-network connectivity of the ASD group relative to the TD group; consequently, the correlation analysis between abnormal FC and behavior was performed.Results: The ASD+ADHD group exhibited decreased within-network connectivity in the precuneus of the ventral DMN compared with the ASD group. Among the three groups, the ASD+ADHD group showed lower connectivity, whereas the ASD group had higher connectivity than the TD group, although the effect of the separate post hoc test was not significant. Meanwhile, the ASD+ADHD group showed increased between-network connectivity between the ventral DMN and dorsal DMN and between the ventral DMN and left executive control network, compared with the ASD and TD groups.Conclusion: Dysfunction of DMN in the “triple-network model” is the core evidence for ASD with co-occurring ADHD.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Itahashi ◽  
Junya Fujino ◽  
Taku Sato ◽  
Haruhisa Ohta ◽  
Motoaki Nakamura ◽  
...  

Abstract Symptoms of autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder often co-occur. Among these, sensory impairment, which is a core diagnostic feature of autism spectrum disorder, is often observed in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. However, the underlying mechanisms of symptoms that are shared across disorders remain unknown. To examine the neural correlates of sensory symptoms that are associated with autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, we analysed resting-state functional MRI data obtained from 113 people with either autism spectrum disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (n = 78 autism spectrum disorder, mean age = 29.5; n = 35 attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, mean age = 31.2) and 96 neurotypical controls (mean age = 30.6, range: 20–55 years) using a cross-sectional study design. First, we used a multi-dimensional approach to examine intrinsic brain functional connectivity related to sensory symptoms in four domains (i.e. low registration, sensation seeking, sensory sensitivity and sensation avoidance), after controlling for age, handedness and head motion. Then, we used a partial least squares correlation to examine the link between sensory symptoms related to intrinsic brain functional connectivity and neurodevelopmental symptoms measured using the Autism Spectrum Quotient and Conners’ Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale, regardless of diagnosis. To test whether observed associations were specific to sensory symptoms related to intrinsic brain functional connectivity, we conducted a control analysis using a bootstrap framework. The results indicated that transdiagnostic yet distinct intrinsic brain functional connectivity neural bases varied according to the domain of the examined sensory symptom. Partial least squares correlation analysis revealed two latent components (latent component 1: q < 0.001 and latent component 2: q < 0.001). For latent component 1, a set of intrinsic brain functional connectivity was predominantly associated with neurodevelopmental symptom-related composite score (r = 0.64, P < 0.001), which was significantly correlated with Conners’ Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale total T scores (r = −0.99, q < 0.001). For latent component 2, another set of intrinsic brain functional connectivity was positively associated with neurodevelopmental symptom-related composite score (r = 0.58, P < 0.001), which was eventually positively associated with Autism Spectrum Quotient total scores (r = 0.92, q < 0.001). The bootstrap analysis showed that the relationship between intrinsic brain functional connectivity and neurodevelopmental symptoms was relative to sensory symptom-related intrinsic brain functional connectivity (latent component 1: P = 0.003 and latent component 2: P < 0.001). The current results suggest that sensory symptoms in individuals with autism spectrum disorder and those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder have shared neural correlates. The neural correlates of the sensory symptoms were associated with the severity of both autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, regardless of diagnosis.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Artemios Pehlivanidis ◽  
Katerina Papanikolaou ◽  
Vasilios Mantas ◽  
Eva Kalantzi ◽  
Kalliopi Korobili ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Co-occurring psychiatric disorders in adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) contribute to the burden of the healthcare and possibly to the delay of diagnosis. Aim of the study was to clinically assess the prevalence and compare lifetime co-occurring psychopathology in a sample of newly diagnosed ADHD and/or ASD adults and discuss the diagnostic challenges they pose.Methods: The lifetime prevalence rates of ten of the most frequently co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses was registered in 336 adults of normal intelligence who underwent a thorough clinical evaluation for the diagnosis of ADHD and/or ASD for the first time in their lives. Four study groups were formed: the ADHD (n=151), the ASD (n=58), the ADHD+ASD (n=28) and the nonADHD/nonASD (NN) (n=88) group. Results: At least one co-occurring psychopathology was found in 72.8% of the ADHD group, in 50% of the ASD group, in 72.4% of the ADHD+ASD group and in 76.1% of the NN group (p=0.004). In all groups the most frequent psychiatric disorder was depressive disorder. The only significant difference regarding the patterns of psychiatric co-occurrence between the ADHD and the nonADHD groups (ASD and NN groups) was found for SUD (p=0.001). Also, the proportion of subjects with Bipolar Disorder was significantly greater in the NN group as compared to those with ASD (p=0.025). Conclusions: Our results support the high prevalence of co-occurring psychiatric disorders in adults with ADHD and/or ASD with the ASD group presenting the lowest rate. The most marked difference between the ADHD and the nonADHD groups was found for SUD. Moreover, our findings highlight the need for a thorough clinical assessment of all referred patients both in the presence and absence of ADHD and/or ASD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Artemios Pehlivanidis ◽  
Katerina Papanikolaou ◽  
Kalliopi Korobili ◽  
Eva Kalantzi ◽  
Vasileios Mantas ◽  
...  

This study assessed the co-occurrence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in newly diagnosed adults of normal intelligence and the contribution of trait-based dimensions deriving from the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale-IV (BAARS-IV), the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), and the Empathy Quotient (EQ) to the differentiation of patients with ADHD, ASD, and ADHD/ASD. A total of 16.1% of patients with ADHD received a co-occurring ASD diagnosis, while 33.3% of patients with ASD received an ADHD diagnosis. Subjects with ADHD or ADHD/ASD had higher scores in all ADHD traits compared to ASD subjects. Compared to the ADHD group, the ASD group had AQ scores that were significantly greater, except for attention to detail. ADHD/ASD co-occurrence significantly increased the score of attention to detail. The total EQ score was greater in the ADHD group. In the stepwise logistic regression analyses, past hyperactivity, current inattention and impulsivity, attention switching, communication, imagination, and total EQ score discriminated ADHD patients from ASD patients. Attention to detail, imagination, and total EQ score discriminated ADHD cases from ADHD/ASD cases, while past hyperactivity and current impulsivity discriminated ASD subjects from ADHD/ASD subjects. Our findings highlight the importance of particular trait-based dimensions when discriminating adults with ADHD, ASD, and co-occurring ADHD/ASD.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Artemios Pehlivanidis ◽  
Katerina Papanikolaou ◽  
Vasilios Mantas ◽  
Eva Kalantzi ◽  
Kalliopi Korobili ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Co-occurring psychiatric disorders in adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) contribute to the burden of the healthcare and possibly to the delay of diagnosis. Aim of the study was to clinically assess the prevalence and compare lifetime co-occurring psychopathology in a sample of newly diagnosed ADHD and/or ASD adults and discuss the diagnostic challenges they pose.Methods The lifetime prevalence rates of ten of the most frequently co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses was registered in 336 adults of normal intelligence who underwent a thorough clinical evaluation for the diagnosis of ADHD and/or ASD for the first time in their lives. Four study groups were formed: the ADHD (n = 151), the ASD (n = 58), the ADHD + ASD (n = 28) and the nonADHD/nonASD (NN) (n = 88) group.Results At least one co-occurring psychopathology was found in 72.8% of the ADHD group, in 50% of the ASD group, in 72.4% of the ADHD + ASD group and in 76.1% of the NN group (p = 0.004). In all groups the most frequent psychiatric disorder was depressive disorder. The only significant difference regarding the patterns of psychiatric co-occurrence between the ADHD, the ASD and NN groups was found for substance use disorder (SUD) (p = 0.001). Also, the proportion of subjects with Bipolar Disorder was significantly greater in the NN group as compared to those with ASD (p = 0.025).Conclusions Our results support the high prevalence of co-occurring psychiatric disorders in adults with ADHD and/or ASD with the ASD group presenting the lowest rate. The most marked difference between the ADHD and the nonADHD groups was found for SUD. Moreover, our findings highlight the need for a thorough clinical assessment of all referred patients both in the presence and absence of ADHD and/or ASD.


2018 ◽  
Vol 214 (06) ◽  
pp. 339-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minyoung Jung ◽  
Yiheng Tu ◽  
Joel Park ◽  
Kristen Jorgenson ◽  
Courtney Lang ◽  
...  

BackgroundBoth attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders with a high prevalence. They are often comorbid and both exhibit abnormalities in sustained attention, yet common and distinct neural patterns of ASD and ADHD remain unidentified.AimsTo investigate shared and distinct functional connectivity patterns in a relatively large sample of boys (7- to 15-year-olds) with ADHD, ASD and typical development matched by age, gender and IQ.MethodWe applied machine learning techniques to investigate patterns of surface-based brain resting-state connectivity in 86 boys with ASD, 83 boys with ADHD and 125 boys with typical development.ResultsWe observed increased functional connectivity within the limbic and somatomotor networks in boys with ASD compared with boys with typical development. We also observed increased functional connectivity within the limbic, visual, default mode, somatomotor, dorsal attention, frontoparietal and ventral attention networks in boys with ADHD compared with boys with ASD. In addition, using a machine learning approach, we were able to discriminate typical development from ASD, typical development from ADHD and ASD from ADHD with accuracy rates of 76.3%, 84.1%, and 79.3%, respectively.ConclusionsOur results may shed new light on the underlying mechanisms of ASD and ADHD and facilitate the development of new diagnostic methods for these disorders.Declaration of interestJ.K. holds equity in a startup company, MNT.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Migó ◽  
Sylvia Guillory ◽  
Christopher S. McLaughlin ◽  
Emily L. Isenstein ◽  
Hannah E. Grosman ◽  
...  

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, where motor impairments are common and impact individuals across the lifespan. A growing body of work suggests that alterations in predictive processes may contribute to the ASD symptomatology, such that the anticipation of upcoming events is disrupted. Such an alteration could potentially impact motor planning. Motor planning deficits are not, however, unique to ASD. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been linked to motor planning and execution difficulties, and ADHD commonly co-occurs with ASD. Whether motor planning deficits are characteristic of ASD broadly or magnified in the context of co-morbid ADHD is unclear. In this study we examined the lateralized readiness potential (LRP) to assess motor preparation and action-consequence prediction. While electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded, 29 typically developing (TD) controls and 21 ASD children both with (ASD+ADHD; n=12) and without (ASD−ADHD; n=9) comorbid ADHD completed a paradigm wherein voluntary actions either did or did not result in an auditory consequence. Our results revealed differences in LRP amplitude as a function of group and whether an action produced an effect. In TD, LRP amplitude was attenuated when an action produced an effect versus when it did not. In contrast, the ASD−ADHD group demonstrated LRP enhancement when the action led to an effect. Finally, the ASD+ADHD had attenuated LRP responses compared to other groups regardless of action-effect pairings. These findings suggest that the neural mechanisms for motor preparation and prediction differ between ASD and TD, and are influenced by the presence or absence of ADHD comorbidity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 214 (06) ◽  
pp. 345-346
Author(s):  
Chirag Mehra ◽  
Michael Absoud

SummaryAltered neural connectivity in neurodevelopmental disorders is likely subtle, meaning that neuroimaging literature studying development has produced heterogeneous findings. A recent study, published in this issue, illustrates the translational potential of functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging findings as a biomarker for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Importantly, it highlights the overlap between disorders, emphasising the need for transdiagnostic and dimensional approaches in neurodevelopment.Declaration of interestNone.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Qian ◽  
Yun Li ◽  
Yao Wang ◽  
Yue Wang ◽  
Xin Cheng ◽  
...  

BackgroundPrevious neuroimaging studies have described shared and distinct neurobiological mechanisms between autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, little is known about the similarities and differences in topologically structural connectivity patterns between the two disorders.MethodsDiffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and deterministic tractography were used to construct the brain white matter (WM) structural networks of children and adolescents (age range, 6–16 years); 31 had ASD, 34 had ADHD, and 30 were age- and sex-matched typically developing (TD) individuals. Then, graph theoretical analysis was performed to investigate the alterations in the global and node-based properties of the WM structural networks in these groups. Next, measures of ASD traits [Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS)] and ADHD traits (Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham, version IV scale, SNAP-IV) were correlated with the alterations to determine the functional significance of such changes.ResultsFirst, there were no significant differences in the global network properties among the three groups; moreover, compared with that of the TD group, nodal degree (Ki) of the right amygdala (AMYG.R) and right parahippocampal gyrus (PHG.R) were found in both the ASD and ADHD groups. Also, the ASD and ADHD groups shared four additional hubs, including the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG.L), left superior temporal gyrus (STG.L), left postcentral gyrus (PoCG.L), and right middle frontal gyrus (MFG.R) compared with the TD group. Moreover, the ASD and ADHD groups exhibited no significant differences regarding regional connectivity characteristics. Second, the ADHD group showed significantly increased nodal betweenness centrality (Bi) of the left hippocampus (HIP.L) compared with the ASD group; also, compared with the ADHD group, the ASD group lacked the left anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG.L) as a hub. Last, decreased nodal efficiency (Enodal) of the AMYG.R, Ki of the AMYG.R, and Ki of the PHG.R were associated with higher SRS scores in the ASD group. Decreased Ki of the PHG.R was associated with higher SRS scores in the full sample, whereas decreased Bi of the PHG.R was associated with lower oppositional defiance subscale scores of the SNAP-IV in the ADHD group, and decreased Bi of the HIP.L was associated with lower inattention subscale scores of the SNAP-IV in the full sample.ConclusionFrom the perspective of the topological properties of brain WM structural networks, ADHD and ASD have both shared and distinct features. More interestingly, some shared and distinct topological properties of WM structures are related to the core symptoms of these disorders.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Chen ◽  
Zengjian Wang ◽  
Bin Wan ◽  
Qingxin Chen ◽  
Yu Jin

Abstract BackgroundVisuospatial working memory (VSWM) impairments were common in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, the detailed processing characteristics when facing face stimuli has not been studied. The present study aimed to explore the deficits of face encoding and retrieving, two processing periods of VSWM, in children with ASD. Furthermore, the influence of comorbid with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms and executive function (EF) on VSWM were discussed.MethodsA sample of 98 children were analyzed in the present study including ASD- (ASD-only, n = 24), ADHD (n = 23), ASD+ (with ADHD symptoms, n = 23) and neurotypical controls (NTC, n = 28). Social Responsive Scale (SRS) and Swanson, Nolan, Pelham-IV rating scales (SNAP-IV) were applied to measure autistic and ADHD-related symptoms. We employed face encoding and retrieving task to examine the ability of VSWM as well as Wisconsin Cart Sorting Test (WCST) to assess the EF.ResultsWe found that the children with ASD- exhibited lower accuracy in both face encoding and retrieving, while subjects with ASD + showed lower accuracy in the face retrieving. No evidence implied a deficit of VSWM in ADHD group. We also found diverse indices of EF contributed to the individuals’ differences of VSWM performance in different clinical groups: categories completed (CC) predicted the accuracy of face retrieving in ASD- group; perseverative responses errors (RPE) predicted the response time (RT) of face retrieving in ADHD and ASD + group; while failure to maintain set (FMS) and RPE predicted the RT of face encoding in ASD + group.LimitationsThe sample size is still small and the sample mainly comprised of intellectually able participants. Therefore, our findings should not be overinterpreted.ConclusionOur findings indicate that comorbid with ADHD symptoms and EF may modulate the deficit of face encoding in children with ASD. The study shed lights on the transdiagnostic neurocognitive basis and re-emphasize the importance of considering ADHD-comorbid condition in ASD.Qi Chen and Zengjian Wang contributed equally to this work as the joint first authors.


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