Brain iron levels in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A pilot MRI study
- 17 May 2011
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry
- Vol. 13 (3), 223-231
- https://doi.org/10.3109/15622975.2011.570376
Abstract
Objective. Brain iron deficiency has been supposed to be involved in the pathophysiology of ADHD. Available studies assessing iron in ADHD are based on serum ferritin, a peripheral marker of iron status. To what extent serum ferritin correlates with brain iron (BI) is unclear. The main aim of this study was to compare BI, estimated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the putamen, pallidum, caudate, and thalamus, between children with and without ADHD. The secondary aim was to assess the correlation between serum ferritin and BI levels. Methods. Thirty-six children (18 with and 18 without ADHD, the latter including nine healthy controls and nine psychiatric controls) completed MRI and blood sampling. Brain iron levels were estimated by imaging T2*. Results. Children with ADHD showed significantly lower estimated BI in right and left thalamus compared to healthy controls. Estimated BI did not differ significantly between children with ADHD and psychiatric controls. Children with ADHD had significantly lower levels of serum ferritin than healthy as well as psychiatric controls. Serum ferritin and T2* values did not correlate significantly in most regions. Conclusions. Low iron in the thalamus may contribute to ADHD pathophysiology.Keywords
This publication has 55 references indexed in Scilit:
- Effects of Zinc and Ferritin Levels on Parent and Teacher Reported Symptom Scores in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderChild Psychiatry and Human Development, 2010
- Principles, Techniques, and Applications of T2*-based MR Imaging and Its Special ApplicationsRadioGraphics, 2009
- Age-related Iron Deposition in the Basal Ganglia: Quantitative Analysis in Healthy SubjectsRadiology, 2009
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, and restless legs syndrome: The iron hypothesisMedical Hypotheses, 2008
- Relation of ferritin levels with symptom ratings and cognitive performance in children with attention deficit–hyperactivity disorderPediatrics International, 2008
- Effects of Iron Supplementation on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in ChildrenPediatric Neurology, 2008
- Iron in Chronic Brain Disorders: Imaging and Neurotherapeutic ImplicationsNeurotherapeutics, 2007
- Influence of gender on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Europe – ADOREEuropean Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2006
- Serum Ferritin in Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderPediatric Neurology, 2006
- Primary disorder of vigilance: A novel explanation of inattentiveness, daydreaming, boredom, restlessness, and sleepinessThe Journal of Pediatrics, 1990