Cited by 1,819Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesAutism Spectrum Disorder Research

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is characterized by a delay in cortical maturation

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Shaw, P., Eckstrand, K., Sharp, W., Blumenthal, J., Lerch, J. P., Greenstein, D., Clasen, L., Evans, A. +2 more·2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Abstract

There is controversy over the nature of the disturbance in brain development that underpins attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In particular, it is unclear whether the disorder results from a delay in brain maturation or whether it represents a complete deviation from the template of typical development. Using computational neuroanatomic techniques, we estimated cortical thickness at >40,000 cerebral points from 824 magnetic resonance scans acquired prospectively on 223 children with ADHD and 223 typically developing controls. With this sample size, we could define the growth trajectory of each cortical point, delineating a phase of childhood increase followed by adolescent decrease in cortical thickness (a quadratic growth model). From these trajectories, the age of attaining peak cortical thickness was derived and used as an index of cortical maturation. We found maturation to progress in a similar manner regionally in both children with and without ADHD, with primary sensory areas attaining peak cortical thickness before polymodal, high-order association areas. However, there was a marked delay in ADHD in attaining peak thickness throughout most of the cerebrum: the median age by which 50% of the cortical points attained peak thickness for this group was 10.5 years (SE 0.01), which was significantly later than the median age of 7.5 years (SE 0.02) for typically developing controls (log rank test χ( 1 ) 2 = 5,609, P < 1.0 × 10 −20 ). The delay was most prominent in prefrontal regions important for control of cognitive processes including attention and motor planning. Neuroanatomic documentation of a delay in regional cortical maturation in ADHD has not been previously reported.

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Crossref · 10.1073/pnas.0707741104

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  • Slower maturation or decreased size of the PFC and diminished PFC, caudate or cerebellum activation have been found in patients with ADHD.

    “Slower maturation or decreased size of the PFC and also diminished PFC, caudate or cerebellum activation have been found in patients with ADHD [77, 78].”

    From Molecular Characterisation of the Mechanism of Action of Stimulant Drugs Lisdexamfetamine and Methylphenidate on ADHD Neurobiology: A Review (2022) · cites this paper as [78]

    The Discussion reports that cortical maturation delay in ADHD was most prominent in the lateral prefrontal cortex and describes prefrontal hypoactivation in children with ADHD. It does not establish decreased PFC size or diminished caudate or cerebellar activation; the study measured cortical thickness and its maturation, not activation in those regions. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • ADHD is associated with slowed or impaired development of the right lateral PFC.

    “ADHD is associated with slowed (Shaw et al., 2007) or impaired (Shaw et al., 2009) development of the right lateral PFC, the PFC region needed for inhibiting inappropriate actions and attention to distractors (Aron, Robbins, & Poldrack, 2004).”

    From Guanfacine’s mechanism of action in treating prefrontal cortical disorders: Successful translation across species (2020) · cites this paper as Shaw et al., 2007

    The Discussion (page unavailable in our copy) says cortical maturation delay in ADHD was most prominent in the lateral prefrontal cortex, supporting the 'slowed' development attributed to Shaw et al. (2007). It does not specify the right lateral PFC, so the right-sided localization is not established by the passages found. The sentence attributes 'impaired' development to a different citation. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • ADHD is associated with delayed maturation of the cerebral cortex.

    “ADHD is also associated with delayed maturation of the cerebral cortex.”

    From Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (2015) · cites this paper as [88]

  • In one study, the age of attaining peak cortical thickness was 10.5 years for patients with ADHD and 7.5 years for unaffected individuals; this delay was most prominent in the prefrontal regions important for executive functioning, attention and motor planning.

    “In one study, the age of attaining peak cortical thickness was 10.5years for patients with ADHD and 7.5years for unaffected individuals; this delay was most prominent in the prefrontal regions that are important for executive functioning, attention and motor planning 88 .”

    From Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (2015) · cites this paper as [88]

  • The delay in cortical maturation is prominent in children with ADHD, but findings in adults are more heterogeneous.

    “While this delay (e.g., in reaching peak cortical thickness) is prominent in children [73], findings in adults are more heterogeneous.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [57]57. Sled JG, Zijdenbos AP, Evans AC (1998) IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging 17:87-97.
  2. [58]58. Zijdenbos AP, Forghani R, Evans AC (2002) IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging 21:1280-1291.

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Authors
Shaw, P., Eckstrand, K., Sharp, W., Blumenthal, J., Lerch, J. P., Greenstein, D., Clasen, L., Evans, A., Giedd, J., & Rapoport, J. L.
Affiliations
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
  • Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (CA)
Corresponding author
Shaw, P.
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2007-12-04
Volume
104
Issue
49
Pages
19649-19654
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
OpenAlex
W2156645869
Cited by
1,819
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 90 · 2025: 89 · 2024: 97 · 2023: 83 · 2022: 89 · 2021: 93 · 2020: 101 · 2019: 115 · 2018: 73 · 2017: 134 · 2016: 114 · 2015: 107 · 2014: 112 · 2013: 100 · 2012: 111
FWCI
41.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Keywords
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cortical maturation, cortical thickness, brain development, prefrontal cortex
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Cerebral Cortex, Child, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male

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