Evaluation of electroretinography (ERG) parameters as a biomarker for ADHD.

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Authors:

Dubois, Marc-André; Pelletier, Charles-Antoine; Chantal Mérette; Jomphe, Valérie; Turgeon, Rose; Bélanger, Richard E; Grondin, Simon; Marc Hébert

Source:

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry, Volume 127, p.110807 (2023)

Keywords:

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Biomarkers, Electroretinography, Female, Humans, Male, Photic Stimulation, Retina, Transcriptional Regulator ERG, Vision, Ocular

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The retina is recognized as an accessible part of the brain due to their common embryonic origin. The electroretinogram (ERG) has proven to be a valuable tool for detecting schizophrenia and bipolarity. We therefore investigated its ability to detect ADHD.METHODS: The cone and rod luminance response functions of the ERG were recorded in 26 ADHD subjects (17 women and 9 men) and 25 controls (16 women and 9 men).RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the mixed groups, but sexual dysmorphia was observed in the significant results. In males, a significant prolonged cone a-wave latency was observed in the ADHD group. In females, we observed a significant decrease in the cone a- and b-wave amplitudes and a trend for a prolonged cone b-wave latency as well as a higher scotopic mixed rod-cone a-wave in the ADHD group.CONCLUSION: The data obtained in this study show the potential of the ERG to detect ADHD, warranting further large-scale studies.