Youth with conduct disorder show widespread differences in brain structure
A NIH-funded neuroimaging study in The Lancet Psychiatry reveals brain structure variations in youth with conduct disorder, impacting behavior and cognition. Reduced cortex area and subcortical volume suggest potential diagnostic and treatment advancements.
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A neuroimaging study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has identified extensive brain structure differences in young individuals with conduct disorder, a condition characterized by disruptive and antisocial behavior. The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, found that youth with conduct disorder exhibited a smaller cerebral cortex, impacting behavior, cognition, and emotion. Researchers analyzed MRI data from over 2,400 youth and discovered reduced surface area in the cortex and volume in subcortical regions like the amygdala and hippocampus. These findings suggest a link between brain structure and conduct disorder symptoms, with more pronounced differences in youth showing lower empathy levels. The study highlights the need for further research to understand the causal relationship between brain structure and the disorder, potentially leading to improved diagnosis and treatment strategies for affected individuals. The study was conducted by the ENIGMA-Antisocial Behavior working group and received funding from multiple NIH institutes.
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7 commentstl;dr: they do have smaller brains.
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