Polygenic Risk and Neural Substrates of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Youths With a History of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Biol Psychiatry
Authors
Keywords
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a major sequela of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in youths. The objective of this study was to examine whether ADHD symptoms are differentially associated with genetic risk and brain structure in youths with and without a history of TBI.

METHODS: Medical history, ADHD symptoms, genetic data, and neuroimaging data were obtained from a community sample of youths. ADHD symptom severity was compared between those with and without TBI (TBI n = 418, no TBI n = 3193). The relationship of TBI history, genetic vulnerability, brain structure, and ADHD symptoms was examined by assessing 1) ADHD polygenic score (discovery sample ADHD n = 19,099, control sample n = 34,194), 2) basal ganglia volumes, and 3) fractional anisotropy in the corpus callosum and corona radiata.

RESULTS: Youths with TBI reported greater ADHD symptom severity compared with those without TBI. Polygenic score was positively associated with ADHD symptoms in youths without TBI but not in youths with TBI. The negative association between the caudate volume and ADHD symptoms was not moderated by a history of TBI. However, the relationship between ADHD symptoms and structure of the genu of the corpus callosum was negative in youths with TBI and positive in youths without TBI.

CONCLUSIONS: The identification of distinct ADHD etiology in youths with TBI provides neurobiological insight into the clinical heterogeneity in the disorder. Results indicate that genetic predisposition to ADHD does not increase the risk for ADHD symptoms associated with TBI. ADHD symptoms associated with TBI may be a result of a mechanical insult rather than neurodevelopmental factors.

Year of Publication
2019
Journal
Biol Psychiatry
Volume
85
Issue
5
Pages
408-416
Date Published
2019 03 01
ISSN
1873-2402
DOI
10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.06.024
PubMed ID
30119875
PubMed Central ID
PMC6330150
Links
Grant list
R03 NS088301 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH099167 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
P41 EB015898 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States
RC2 MH089924 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
U01 CA199459 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
P41 EB015902 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States
RC2 MH089983 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States