Child Developmental MRI (CDM) project: protocol for a multi-centre, cross-sectional study on elucidating the pathophysiology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder through a multi-dimensional approach

• Published in: BMJ open Vol. 13; no. 6; p. e070157
• Main Authors: Yamashita, Masatoshi, Kagitani-Shimono, Kuriko, Hirano, Yoshiyuki, Hamatani, Sayo, Nishitani, Shota, Yao, Akiko, Kurata, Sawa, Kosaka, Hirotaka, Jung, Minyoung, Yoshida, Tokiko, Sasaki, Tsuyoshi, Matsumoto, Koji, Kato, Yoko, Nakanishi, Mariko, Tachibana, Masaya, Mohri, Ikuko, Tsuchiya, Kenji J, Tsujikawa, Tetsuya, Okazawa, Hidehiko, Shimizu, Eiji, Taniike, Masako, Tomoda, Akemi, Mizuno, Yoshifumi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 23.06.2023; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group
• Series: Protocol
• Subjects: Adult; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnostic imaging; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorder - diagnostic imaging; Biomarkers; Brain; Brain research; Child; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Children & youth; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developmental neurology & neurodisability; DNA methylation; Epigenetics; Head injuries; Humans; Hyperactivity; Informed consent; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medical imaging; Mental disorders; Mental Health; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Neurobiology; Neuroimaging; Paediatric neurology; Pathogenesis; Pediatrics; Pregnancy; Scanners; Special education; Teenagers; Paediatric neurology; Developmental neurology & neurodisability; Child & adolescent psychiatry
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070157

IntroductionNeuroimaging studies on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have demonstrated differences in extensive brain structure, activity and network. However, there remains heterogeneity and inconsistency across these findings, presumably because of the diversity of the disorders themselves, small sample sizes, and site and parameter differences in MRI scanners, and their overall pathogenesis remains unclear. To address these gaps in the literature, we will apply the travelling-subject approach to correct site differences in MRI scanners and clarify brain structure and network characteristics of children with ADHD and ASD using large samples collected in a multi-centre collaboration. In addition, we will investigate the relationship between these characteristics and genetic, epigenetic, biochemical markers, and behavioural and psychological measures.Methods and analysisWe will collect resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) and T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted MRI data from 15 healthy adults as travelling subjects and 300 children (ADHD, n=100; ASD, n=100; and typical development, n=100) with multi-dimensional assessments. We will also apply data from more than 1000 samples acquired in our previous neuroimaging studies on ADHD and ASD.Ethics and disseminationThe study protocol has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Fukui Hospital (approval no: 20220601). Our study findings will be submitted to scientific peer-reviewed journals and conferences.