Common and distinct cortical thickness alterations in youth with autism spectrum disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Motivation: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are neurodevelopmental disorders with overlapping behavioral features and genetic etiology. Exploring brain cortical thickness (CTh) could help understand the neurobiological basis which builds the bridge between clinical manifestations and genetic liability of the two disorders. Goal(s): To demonstrate the common and distinct of CTh changes in ASD and ADHD. Approach: Previous brain structural MRI studies analyzing CTh of ASD and ADHD were included and compared by vertex-based meta-analysis. Results: The ASD showed disorder-specific increased thickness in parietal lobule, and ADHD-specific decreased CTh was in motor area. Both disorders shared thinner thickness in temporo-parietal junction. Impact: The shared and different patterns of CTh alterations in ASD and ADHD provide objective evidence for transdiagnosis. The subtle differences in areas with distinct functions could partly explain the divergent behavioral features in the two disorders and elucidate disorder-specific etiologies.