Cited by 320Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

DOPA Decarboxylase Activity in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Adults. A [Fluorine-18]Fluorodopa Positron Emission Tomographic Study

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Ernst, Monique, Zametkin, Alan J., Matochik, John A., Jons, Peter H., Cohen, Robert M.·1998·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

Converging evidence implicates the dopaminergic system and the prefrontal and nigrostriatal regions in the pathophysiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Using positron emission tomography (PET) with [fluorine-18]fluorodopa (F18-DOPA), we compared the integrity of the presynaptic dopaminergic function between 17 ADHD adults and 23 healthy controls. The ratio of the isotope concentration of specific regions to that of nonspecific regions reflects DOPA decarboxylase activity and dopamine storage processes. Of three composite regions (prefrontal cortex, striatum, and midbrain), only the prefrontal cortex showed significantly different F18-DOPA ratios in ADHD as compared with control adults (p < 0.01). The medial and left prefrontal areas were the most altered (lower F18-DOPA ratios by 52 and 51% in ADHD as compared with controls). Similarly, the interaction [sex x diagnosis] was significant only in the prefrontal cortex (p < 0.02): lower ratios in men than in women in ADHD and vice versa in controls. These findings suggest that a prefrontal dopaminergic dysfunction mediates ADHD symptoms in adults and that gender influences this abnormality. On the basis of previous neuroimaging findings in ADHD showing discrepant findings in adults and adolescents and on evidence for midbrain dopaminergic defect in adolescents, we hypothesize that the prefrontal dopaminergic abnormality in ADHD adults is secondary and results from an interaction of the primary subcortical dopaminergic deficit with processes of neural maturation and neural adaptation.

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Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.18-15-05901.1998

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  • Neurochemical studies have demonstrated alterations in dopaminergic signaling in the striatum and midbrain in ADHD, and linked such alterations with inattention symptoms and motivation problems in children and adults with ADHD.

    “Neurochemical studies have demonstrated alterations in dopaminergic signaling in the striatum and the midbrain in ADHD, and linked such alterations with inattention symptoms and motivation problems in children and adults with ADHD.5,27–29”

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Authors
Ernst, M., Zametkin, A. J., Matochik, J. A., Jons, P. H., & Cohen, R. M.
Affiliations
National Institutes of Health (US)
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
1998-08-01
Volume
18
Issue
15
Pages
5901-5907
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W1782783388
Cited by
320
References
73
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 8
FWCI
11.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, adult ADHD, prefrontal cortex, striatum, midbrain, sex differences, dopamine storage, dopaminergic dysfunction
MeSH terms
Adult, Analysis of Variance, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Dihydroxyphenylalanine, Dopa Decarboxylase, Female, Fluorine Radioisotopes, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Tomography, Emission-Computed, Case-Control Studies, Presynaptic Terminals

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