ADHD

Posted on ADHD, Autism

Neurons look different in autistic children

Neuronal measurements could provide new insight into diagnosis and therapeutic interventions for autism
Neuronal measurements could provide new insight into diagnosis and therapeutic interventions for autism

New evidence suggests that the cells responsible for communication in the brain may have different structures in children with autism. Researchers at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester have found that neuron density in certain areas of the brain varies in children with autism compared to the general population.

“We have spent many years describing the broad characteristics of brain regions, such as thickness, volume, and curvature,” said Zachary Christensen, MD/PhD candidate at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and the first author of the paper published today in Autism Research. “However, newer techniques in the field of neuroimaging for characterizing cells using MRI reveal new levels of complexity throughout development.”

Imaging provides new insight into brain development

Researchers analyzed brain imaging data from over 11,000 children aged 9-11. They compared brain scans of 142 children with autism to those of the general population and found lower neuron density in certain regions of the cerebral cortex. These regions are associated with memory, learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. On the other hand, they also found increased neuron density in the amygdala, a region responsible for emotions. The researchers compared the brain scans of children with autism not only to those without any neurodevelopmental diagnosis but also to a large group of children diagnosed with common psychiatric disorders like ADHD and anxiety. The results indicated that these differences are specific to autism.

“People diagnosed with autism often have to cope with other conditions such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD. These findings indicate that we now have a new set of measurements that show promise in identifying individuals with autism,” Christensen explained. “If we can reliably and easily identify unique differences in neuron structure in those with autism, it opens up opportunities to understand how autism develops. These measures could also be used to identify individuals with autism who may benefit from more targeted therapeutic interventions.”

Technology leverages what we know about the inner workings of the brain and autism

The advancement of technology has greatly improved the ability of investigators to observe precise details in neuronal structure. In the past, researchers could only observe structural differences in neural populations after death. The imaging data for this research was obtained from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study database, which is the largest long-term study of brain development and child health. The University of Rochester is one of 21 national sites collecting data for this study, which began in 2015 and has significantly enhanced our understanding of adolescent brain health and development.

Posted on ADHD, Mental health

Specially designed video games may benefit mental health of children and teenagers

Johns Hopkins Children’s Center researchers reviewed studies of video games designed as mental health interventions for anxiety, depression and ADHD
Johns Hopkins Children’s Center researchers reviewed studies of video games designed as mental health interventions for anxiety, depression and ADHD.

In a review of previous studies, a Johns Hopkins Children’s Center team concludes that some video games created as mental health interventions can be helpful – if modest – tools in improving the mental well-being of children and teens with anxiety, depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

An estimated 20% of children and teenagers between the ages of three and 17 in the U.S. have a mental, emotional, developmental or behavioural disorder. Suicidal behaviours among high school students also increased by more than 40% in the ten years before 2019, according to a report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Other studies provide evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruptions worsened these trends, and while research suggests parents and other care givers are seeking out mental health care for children, wait times for appointments have increased.

“We found literature that suggests that even doubling the number of pediatric mental health providers still wouldn’t meet the need,” says Barry Bryant, M.D., a resident in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and first author of the new study.

In a bid to determine if so-called “gamified digital mental health interventions,” or video games designed to treat mental health conditions, benefited those with anxiety, depression and ADHD, the research team analyzed their use in randomized clinical trials for children and adolescents.

Bryant and child and adolescent psychologist Joseph McGuire, Ph.D., identified 27 such trials from the U.S. and worldwide. The studies included 2,911 participants, about half of whom were boys and half of whom were girls, between the ages of six and 17.

The digital mental health interventions varied in content, but were all created with the intent of treating ADHD, depression and anxiety. For example, for ADHD, some games involve racing or splitting attention, which requires the user to pay attention to more than one activity to succeed in gameplay. For depression and anxiety, some of the interventions taught psychotherapy-oriented concepts in a game format. All games were conducted on technology platforms like computers, tablets, video game consoles and smartphones. The video games are available to users in various ways — some are available online, while others required access through specific research teams involved in the studies.

Outcome measurements varied depending on the study. However, the Johns Hopkins research team was able to standardize effect sizes using a random-effects model so that a positive result was indicated when interventions performed better than control conditions. Hedges g, a statistic used to measure effect size, was used to quantify treatment effects overall in the studies reviewed.

Researchers also examined factors that led to improved benefit from digital mental health interventions. Specific factors related to video game delivery (i.e., interventions on computers and those with preset time limits) and participants (i.e., studies that involved more boys) were found to positively influence therapeutic effects. Researchers say these findings suggest ways to improve the current modest symptom benefit.

“While the benefits are still modest, our research shows that we have some novel tools to help improve children’s mental health — particularly for ADHD and depression — that can be relatively accessible to families,” says Joseph McGuire, PhD, an author of the study and an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences in the school of medicine. “So if you are a paediatrician and you’re having trouble getting your pediatric patient into individual mental health care, there could be some gamified mental health interventions that could be nice first steps for children while waiting to start individual therapy.”

Posted on ADHD, Autism, Children's health, Obesity

Obesity in mums doubles the possibility of autism in babies? Does this research chime with your experience?

When screening pregnant women for gestational diabetes, casual blood glucose testing misses 70% of the cases. This Kobe University study should encourage obstetricians to depend on more reliable tests to help prevent pregnancy complications and the development of type II diabetes in mothers and children.
Children born to mothers with obesity before and during pregnancy have a higher possibility of neuropsychiatric and behavioural conditions, such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to new research from the University of South Australia. 


Funded by the Centre of Research Excellence in Health in Preconception & Pregnancy and conducted in partnership with Curtin University, Monash University, SAHMRI, and a team of national institutions, the systematic review and meta-analysis of more than 3.6 million mother-child pairs across 42 epidemiological studies found that obesity during pregnancy: 

Increases the chance of ADHD in children by 32%.
Doubles the chance of developing autism in children (by 2.23 times).
Increases the possibility of conduct disorders by 16%

 
The study also found that maternal pre-conception obesity or overweight was linked with an increased risk of ADHD, autism, conduct disorder and psychotic disorder, as well as a 30% increased risk in both externalising symptoms and peer relationship problems.
 
 
“Maternal obesity has long been associated with a range of adverse perinatal outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and it is also linked with macrosomia or high birthweight,” Dr Duko says.
 
“In this study, we examined maternal overweight and obesity before and during pregnancy, finding that both are significantly linked with psychiatric and behavioural problems in children later in life, specifically autism, ADHD and peer relationship problems.
 
“Given the rising global obesity rates among women of reproductive age, and the growing numbers of children identified with neurodiverse conditions, it’s important that we acknowledge the potential long-term consequences of maternal adiposity on child mental health.”
 
In Australia, approximately 1 in 150 people are autistic , and more than 8% of children aged 4-11 are diagnosed with ADHD. Globally, 1 in 8 people live with obesity.