Mental Health Center of Madison County
4040 South Memorial Parkway
Huntsville, AL 35802
Telephone Crisis Intervention
Available 24/7
For Our Clients and the Local Community
256-533-1970
ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
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Brain Scan Spots Differences in Tots With ADHD Symptoms

HealthDay News
by -- Robert Preidt
Updated: Jun 10th 2011

new article illustration

FRIDAY, June 10 (HealthDay News) -- Preschool children with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a smaller-than-normal structure in the brain that plays an important role in cognitive and motor control, new research shows.

The finding may help efforts to develop ways to treat the common behavioral disorder in the early stages, according to the researchers at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore.

In the study, high-resolution MRI was used to examine the brains of 13 preschoolers with ADHD symptoms (including inattentiveness and impulsivity) and 13 without ADHD symptoms. The scans showed that children with ADHD symptoms had a significantly smaller caudate nucleus, a small structure in the subcortical region of the brain.

In addition, the smaller the child's caudate nucleus, the greater the level of ADHD symptoms reported by parents, the investigators found.

"Clinically, this abnormal brain development sets the stage for the symptoms of ADHD that contribute to cognitive challenges and problems in school," lead author Mark Mahone, director of neuropsychology at Kennedy Krieger, said in an institute news release.

"Earlier identification and treatment of children presenting with attention problems in the preschool years may minimize the impact of ADHD in the long-term," he added.

The study was published in the June 9 online edition of the journal Clinical Neuropsychologist.

ADHD is the most common child behavioral diagnosis in the United States, affecting about 2 million children.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more about ADHD.




The Mental Health Center of Madison County
4040 South Memorial Pky.
Huntsville, AL 35802

Phone
256.533.1970

Fax
256.532.4112

Office hours:

Monday to Thursday
8:00am - 5:30pm

Friday
8:00am - 5:00pm

Telephone Crisis Intervention 
Available 24/7
For Our Clients and the Local Community

256-533-1970

 


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