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Lange K, Pham C, Fedyszyn IE, Cook F, Burgner DP, Olsson CA, Downes M, Priest N, Mansell T, Tang MLK, Ponsonby AL, Symeonides C, Loughman A, Vuillermin P, Kerr JA, Gray L, Sly PD, Lycett K, Carlin JB, Saffery R, Wake M, O'Connor M. Emotional symptoms and inflammatory biomarkers in childhood: Associations in two Australian birth cohorts. J Affect Disord 2024; 344:356-364. [PMID: 37832736 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An increasing body of evidence supports associations between inflammation and mental health difficulties, but the onset and directionality of these relationships are unclear. METHODS Data sources: Barwon Infant Study (BIS; n = 500 4-year-olds) and Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC; n = 1099 10-13-year-olds). MEASURES Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire emotional symptoms at 4, 10-11 and 12-13 years, and circulating levels of two inflammatory biomarkers, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA), at 4 and 11-12 years. ANALYSIS Adjusted quantile regression models examining cross-sectional associations between emotional symptoms and inflammation in 4-year-olds (BIS), and cross-lagged associations in 10-13-year-olds (LSAC). RESULTS We identified a small association between higher emotional symptoms at 10-11 years and higher GlycA levels a year later (standardised coefficient β = 0.09; 95%CI: 0.02 to 0.15). Sex-stratified analyses revealed this association was stronger for boys (β = 0.13; 95%CI: 0.04 to 0.21) than girls (β = 0.01; 95%CI: -0.09 to 0.11). These associations were not observed for hsCRP. There was little evidence of an association between higher GlycA or hsCRP at 11-12 years and emotional symptoms a year later, or cross-sectional associations between emotional symptoms and hsCRP or GlycA at 4 years. LIMITATIONS A single time-point of biomarker collection in late childhood precluded adjustment for baseline inflammatory biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS Our results support the direction of association from emotional symptoms to inflammation in late childhood, with potential sex differences. This adds to the body of evidence that addressing emotional symptoms in childhood is a major priority in optimising overall health throughout the life course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Lange
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Cindy Pham
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Izabela E Fedyszyn
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Fallon Cook
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - David P Burgner
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Monash University, Department of Paediatrics, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Craig A Olsson
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Deakin University, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Faculty of Health, School of Psychology, Burwood, VIC, Australia
| | - Marnie Downes
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Naomi Priest
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Australian National University, Centre for Social Research and Methods, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Toby Mansell
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Mimi L K Tang
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Anne-Louise Ponsonby
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Christos Symeonides
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Minderoo Foundation, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Amy Loughman
- Deakin University, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter Vuillermin
- Deakin University, School of Medicine, Geelong, VIC, Australia; Barwon Health, Child Health Research Unit, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Jessica A Kerr
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Otago, Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Lawrence Gray
- Deakin University, School of Medicine, Geelong, VIC, Australia; Barwon Health, Child Health Research Unit, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter D Sly
- University of Queensland, Child Health Research Centre, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kate Lycett
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Deakin University, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Faculty of Health, School of Psychology, Burwood, VIC, Australia
| | - John B Carlin
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Richard Saffery
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Melissa Wake
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Auckland, Liggins Institute, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Meredith O'Connor
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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