Achi news desk-
Fifteen-year-old Camryn Mitchell has Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
“I can’t concentrate, and I don’t remember what I said before. I find that I’m doing things and then suddenly my mind wanders off,” says Mitchell
“I have trouble socializing, speaking, (and) communicating. Like, for some reason, I find it very difficult to make plans and tell people – like my mother in particular – that I’ve made plans.”
The grade 10 student from Okotoks is participating in a groundbreaking study with University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine researchers that combines advanced neuroimaging with non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, in an attempt to unlock the mysteries of ADHD and create personalized treatment for Canadian children. .
The team of researchers led by Pediatric Neurologist Kara Murias uses Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive method that modulates brain activity in targeted regions.
“Our hypothesis is that selected executive functions can be affected or interfered with or improved if we stimulate the right part of the brain,” says Murias
“We stimulate different parts of the brain, and then measure the change in those different executive functions to see if we can tailor it to an individual’s specific deficits, because not all children with ADHD have the same executive function deficits,” Murias added.
Neurotransmitters and symptoms
Those taking part in the study receive one session of TMS, causing a temporary change in brain excitability for a period of 30 to 60 minutes. The focus is to investigate the relationship between neurotransmitters and specific ADHD symptoms.
TMS has previously been used in adult treatments for depression and anxiety.
“We know that in adults who receive TMS treatment for depression, or some other indications, there are long-term changes in the excitability and activity of the stimulating parts of the brain,” said Murias, who be warned that doesn’t automatically mean. the same results are found in children.
“The common cliché in paediatrics is that ‘children are not small adults’,” added Murias. “We know that when we do something in a child, we need to study it specifically to understand what it’s like in children, and among children of. different ages. As children are of school age, their brains change a lot. Adolescent brains change a lot too, for different reasons.”
Carrying out cognitive tasks
Using cutting-edge MRI techniques, researchers image the brain’s structure, functionality and dopamine production. Participants, like Mitchell, perform cognitive tasks designed to assess executive functions, such as behavior regulation and attention control. This is followed by TMS applied to brain areas highlighted in the MRI data.
Bevin Wiley, PhD candidate in neuroscience works with Dr. Muria, and implements the TMS during the session with Mitchell.
“We’re looking at different parts of the brain to see if we’re stimulating different areas,” Wiley said. “How does that have a different effect on different types of executive functions or possibly different areas that could be a problem for children with ADHD?”
“If we can then target slightly different brain areas that represent problems specific to an individual, then we can help personalize what might be best in treatment for ADHD.”
A widespread neurodevelopmental condition
ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental condition. According to the Canadian Center for ADHD Awareness in children across Canada, four to six per cent of adults and five to seven per cent of children, a total of about 1.8 million Canadians, or one in every 21 people in the country with the disorder.
It can lead to adverse long-term effects if left untreated. The genetic underpinnings of ADHD are well documented, but the link between neurotransmitter dysfunction and the manifestation of ADHD symptoms remains elusive.
Although current treatments, including stimulant medications, target specific neurotransmitters such as dopamine and noradrenaline, they are not universally effective and can have significant side effects.
Researchers are still recruiting subjects for the study. More information, including a registration form, is available on the University of Calgary website here.
