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Brain Scans Of ADHD Kids Show More Gray Matter
(May 27, 2004) - Many children suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
Now, new research is giving doctors and parents valuable information on the cause and treatment for ADHD.
Mandi Kindel's son Jason has ADHD, and sometimes it is hard for him to stay focused.
"Schooling is a challenge for him, as far as his behavior and him being impulsive," said Kindel.
Researchers are now using sophisticated brain mapping techniques and computer equipment to search for the underlying physical causes of the syndrome.
"If we can begin to find out where in the brain these kids are abnormal, we might be able to begin targeting new medications which may help alleviate the symptoms," said neurologist Elizabeth Sowell.
Neurologists at UCLA compared MRI brain scans of 26 children with ADHD against brain scans of 46 children without the disorder.
They found that children with ADHD have more gray matter in some areas of the brain.
During adolescence, gray matter normally declines as the wiring of the brain becomes more efficient.
"We're beginning to think that maybe the gray matter is too thick in the kids with ADHD because they're not maturing in a way that normal kids mature," said Sowell.
The scans also showed that the areas in the brain that control attention and impulse are smaller in children with ADHD.
Knowing where in the brain there are abnormalities, researchers can begin to figure out how to target those regions of the brain with new medications.
With the pharmaceutical industry booming the way it is, it won't be long before we see more targeted medicines for kids with ADHD, reported Booth.
And finding better treatments for ADHD could help a lot of children, and spell relief for their parents.
Copyright 2004 by NewsNet5.
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