[SP4] Scientific Platform 4: ASD / ADHD A & B

[SP4-3B-7] Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – from Rodent to Human

^○Ming-Tao Yang^{1, 2} (1.Department of Pediatrics, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, 2.Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, Taiwan)

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common childhood neurodevelopment disorder. The limited efficacy and possible adverse effects of current ADHD medication warrant new drug development. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is involved in many physiological and pathological processes, including monoamine transmission in the central nervous system. Dysregulation of noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems is involved in the pathology of ADHD. In our previous study in rodents, we had shown that CA inhibitors at low dose can strain-specifically antagonize the hyperactivity and impulsivity of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), which is currently the best-validated animal model of ADHD. In the open-label pilot study, we applied acetazolamide (AZ), a CA inhibitor, to treat ADHD children, 6 to 14 years old. The subjects receiving AZ (the AZ group) were compared with children only receiving community care (the control group). After four-week treatment, we compared the ADHD symptom scores and the computerized continuous performance test before and after treatments between two groups. The AZ group improved greater than the control group in some sub-scores of ADHD symptom and continuous performance test, without significant adverse events. In conclusion, CA inhibitors may be a good drug candidate for the treatment of ADHD children.