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Abstract #1732

Stimulant medication and development of the dopamine system in ADHD: a pharmacological MRI study

Zarah van der Pal1, Henk Jan Mutsaerts2, Antonia Kaiser3, Marco A Bottelier4, Hilde M Geurts5, Liesbeth Reneman1, and Anouk Schrantee1
1Dept. of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2Dept. of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 3CIBM, Center for Biomedical Imaging, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland, 4Accare, Centre for Academic Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UMC Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, 5Dutch Autism and ADHD Research Center, Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Synopsis

Keywords: Psychiatric Disorders, Neuroscience

Motivation: The effects of stimulant treatment (e.g. methylphenidate) on the brain’s dopamine system remain unclear. While animal studies and short-term human trials suggest potential lasting impacts, a comprehensive understanding is lacking.

Goal(s): This study aimed to investigate the persistent effects of stimulant treatment on the dopamine system.

Approach: Using data from a naturalistic follow-up of an ADHD trial, we examined the cerebral blood flow (CBF) response to methylphenidate as a proxy for dopamine function.

Results: Our findings reveal age-dependent effects. Specifically, we observed a negative association between medication use and CBF response in adolescents, while such an association was absent in adults.

Impact: We found an association between patterns of stimulant treatment for ADHD and the cerebral blood flow response to a dopamine-challenge in adolescents, but not adults. This suggests potential for personalization of stimulant treatment approaches for adolescents with ADHD.

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Keywords