Investigation of Retinal Biomarkers in Adult ADHD: A Comparative Optical Coherence Tomography Study.

IF 1 4区医学 Q4 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Noropsikiyatri Arsivi-Archives of Neuropsychiatry Pub Date : 2025-08-21 eCollection Date: 2026-01-01 DOI:10.29399/npa.29112

Serek Tekin, Faruk Kurhan

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasingly recognized as a condition with both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative components. This study aims to investigate retinal structural alterations in adults diagnosed with ADHD using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to identify potential retinal biomarkers.

Methods: The study included 31 adults diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-5 criteria and 33 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Retinal measurements were obtained from the right eye of all participants using the Spektralis® OCT system in accordance with the ETDRS protocol. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), ganglion cell complex (GCC), and central macular thickness (CMT) were measured. ADHD symptom severity was assessed using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). Group comparisons were made using independent t-tests, and correlations with clinical measures were evaluated using Pearson correlation analysis.

Results: Compared to healthy controls, the ADHD group showed a statistically significant thinning in the CMT, IPL, and GCC layers, especially at the 1 mm zone (p < 0.05).

Mean values for the adhd group versus the control group were as follows: CMT (254.3 µm vs. 268.7 µm), IPL (35.2 µm vs. 38.4 µm), and GCC (78.5 µm vs. 82.3 µm). Similar thinning patterns were observed at the 3 mm zone for CMT and GCC, and at the 6 mm zone for IPL. No statistically significant differences were found in RNFL and GCL measurements. Thinning in specific retinal layers was significantly correlated with higher ADHD severity scores.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that adults with ADHD exhibit measurable retinal thinning, particularly in the CMT, IPL, and GCC layers. These structural changes may reflect underlying neurodegenerative processes and suggest that retinal imaging via OCT could serve as a useful non-invasive biomarker in adult ADHD.

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成人ADHD视网膜生物标志物的研究：一项比较光学相干断层扫描研究。

注意力缺陷/多动障碍（ADHD）越来越被认为是一种同时具有神经发育和神经退行性成分的疾病。本研究旨在利用光学相干断层扫描（OCT）研究诊断为ADHD的成人视网膜结构改变，并确定潜在的视网膜生物标志物。方法：该研究包括31名根据DSM-5标准诊断为ADHD的成年人和33名年龄和性别匹配的健康对照。根据ETDRS协议，使用Spektralis®OCT系统从所有参与者的右眼获得视网膜测量。测量视网膜神经纤维层（RNFL）、神经节细胞层（GCL）、内丛状层（IPL）、神经节细胞复合体（GCC）和中央黄斑厚度（CMT）。使用成人ADHD自我报告量表（ASRS）评估ADHD症状严重程度。采用独立t检验进行组间比较，采用Pearson相关分析评价与临床指标的相关性。结果：与健康对照组相比，ADHD组CMT、IPL和GCC层变薄具有统计学意义，特别是在1mm区域（p < 0.05）。adhd组与对照组的平均值如下：CMT（254.3µm vs 268.7µm）、IPL（35.2µm vs 38.4µm）和GCC（78.5µm vs 82.3µm）。CMT和GCC在3 mm区域和IPL在6 mm区域观察到类似的细化模式。RNFL和GCL测量结果无统计学差异。特定视网膜层变薄与较高的ADHD严重程度评分显著相关。结论：我们的研究表明，患有ADHD的成年人表现出可测量的视网膜变薄，特别是在CMT、IPL和GCC层。这些结构变化可能反映了潜在的神经退行性过程，并表明通过OCT进行视网膜成像可以作为成人ADHD的有用的非侵入性生物标志物。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Noropsikiyatri Arsivi-Archives of Neuropsychiatry CLINICAL NEUROLOGY-

CiteScore

1.70

自引率

9.10%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Archives of Neuropsychiatry (Arch Neuropsychiatry) is the official journal of the Turkish Neuropsychiatric Society. It is published quarterly, and four editions annually constitute a volume. Archives of Neuropsychiatry is a peer reviewed scientific journal that publishes articles on psychiatry, neurology, and behavioural sciences. Both clinical and basic science contributions are welcomed. Submissions that address topics in the interface of neurology and psychiatry are encouraged. The content covers original research articles, reviews, letters to the editor, and case reports.