ADHD from Childhood into Adulthood: A 13-Year Imaging Follow-Up

Clinicians have long known that about 50% of children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) appear to “outgrow” the illness by adolescence. But only recently has clinical and research interest in adult ADHD burgeoned, generating complex treatment decisions. Physicians need to differentiate between patients with ADHD and adults who wish to use stimulant medications for cognitive enhancement. Thus, biological markers of adult ADHD are acutely needed. In this longitudinal study, investigators analyzed data from repeated magnetic resonance imaging scans in 92 children with ADHD diagnosed at a mean age of 11 years and 184 healthy controls matched on IQ and demographics. Follow-up lasted a mean of 13 years.

ADHD did not re…