1
|
So M, Dziuban EJ, Pedati CS, Holbrook JR, Claussen AH, O'Masta B, Maher B, Cerles AA, Mahmooth Z, MacMillan L, Kaminski JW, Rush M. Childhood Physical Health and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Modifiable Factors. PREVENTION SCIENCE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR PREVENTION RESEARCH 2024; 25:316-336. [PMID: 35947281 PMCID: PMC10032176 DOI: 10.1007/s11121-022-01398-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Although neurobiologic and genetic factors figure prominently in the development of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), adverse physical health experiences and conditions encountered during childhood may also play a role. Poor health is known to impact the developing brain with potential lifelong implications for behavioral issues. In attempt to better understand the relationship between childhood physical health and the onset and presence of ADHD symptoms, we summarized international peer-reviewed articles documenting relationships between a select group of childhood diseases or health events (e.g., illnesses, injuries, syndromes) and subsequent ADHD outcomes among children ages 0-17 years. Drawing on a larger two-phase systematic review, 57 longitudinal or retrospective observational studies (1978-2021) of childhood allergies, asthma, eczema, head injury, infection, or sleep problems and later ADHD diagnosis or symptomatology were identified and subjected to meta-analysis. Significant associations were documented between childhood head injuries, infections, and sleep problems with both dichotomous and continuous measures of ADHD, and between allergies with dichotomous measures of ADHD. We did not observe significant associations between asthma or eczema with ADHD outcomes. Heterogeneity detected for multiple associations, primarily among continuously measured outcomes, underscores the potential value of future subgroup analyses and individual studies. Collectively, these findings shed light on the importance of physical health in understanding childhood ADHD. Possible etiologic links between physical health factors and ADHD are discussed, as are implications for prevention efforts by providers, systems, and communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marvin So
- Division of Human Development and Disability, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS-E88, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA.
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA.
| | - Eric J Dziuban
- Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Caitlin S Pedati
- Virginia Beach Department of Public Health, Virginia Beach, VA, USA
| | - Joseph R Holbrook
- Division of Human Development and Disability, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS-E88, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | - Angelika H Claussen
- Division of Human Development and Disability, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS-E88, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | | | - Brion Maher
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jennifer W Kaminski
- Division of Human Development and Disability, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS-E88, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
A Critical Review of Statistical Methods for Twin Studies Relating Exposure to Early Life Health Conditions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312696. [PMID: 34886424 PMCID: PMC8657152 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
When investigating disease etiology, twin data provide a unique opportunity to control for confounding and disentangling the role of the human genome and exposome. However, using appropriate statistical methods is fundamental for exploiting such potential. We aimed to critically review the statistical approaches used in twin studies relating exposure to early life health conditions. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase (2011–2021). We identified 32 studies and nine classes of methods. Five were conditional approaches (within-pair analyses): additive-common-erratic (ACE) models (11 studies), generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs, five studies), generalized linear models (GLMs) with fixed pair effects (four studies), within-pair difference analyses (three studies), and paired-sample tests (two studies). Four were marginal approaches (unpaired analyses): generalized estimating equations (GEE) models (five studies), GLMs with cluster-robust standard errors (six studies), GLMs (one study), and independent-sample tests (one study). ACE models are suitable for assessing heritability but require adaptations for binary outcomes and repeated measurements. Conditional models can adjust by design for shared confounders, and GLMMs are suitable for repeated measurements. Marginal models may lead to invalid inference. By highlighting the strengths and limitations of commonly applied statistical methods, this review may be helpful for researchers using twin designs.
Collapse
|
3
|
Early environmental risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders - a systematic review of twin and sibling studies. Dev Psychopathol 2020; 33:1448-1495. [PMID: 32703331 PMCID: PMC8564717 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579420000620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
While neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are highly heritable, several environmental risk factors have also been suggested. However, the role of familial confounding is unclear. To shed more light on this, we reviewed the evidence from twin and sibling studies. A systematic review was performed on case control and cohort studies including a twin or sibling within-pair comparison of neurodevelopmental outcomes, with environmental exposures until the sixth birthday. From 7,315 screened abstracts, 140 eligible articles were identified. After adjustment for familial confounding advanced paternal age, low birth weight, birth defects, and perinatal hypoxia and respiratory stress were associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and low birth weight, gestational age and family income were associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), categorically and dimensionally. Several previously suspected factors, including pregnancy-related factors, were deemed due to familial confounding. Most studies were conducted in North America and Scandinavia, pointing to a global research bias. Moreover, most studies focused on ASD and ADHD. This genetically informed review showed evidence for a range of environmental factors of potential casual significance in NDDs, but also points to a critical need of more genetically informed studies of good quality in the quest of the environmental causes of NDDs.
Collapse
|
4
|
Maternal serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and offspring attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2020; 29:239-247. [PMID: 31312974 PMCID: PMC7024691 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-019-01372-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to infection and inflammation during the fetal period are associated with offspring neuropsychiatric disorders. Few previous studies have examined this association with ADHD with mixed findings. This study aims to examine the association between early gestational maternal C-reactive protein (CRP), prospectively assayed in stored maternal sera and the risk of ADHD in offspring. This study is based on the Finnish Prenatal studies of ADHD (FIPS-ADHD) with a nested case-control design. It includes all singleton-born children in Finland between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 1999 and diagnosed with ADHD. A total of 1079 cases and equal number of controls were matched on date of birth, sex and place of birth. Maternal CRP levels were assessed using a latex immunoassay from archived maternal serum specimens, collected during the first and early second trimester of pregnancy. Elevated maternal CRP when analyzed as a continuous variable was not associated with offspring ADHD (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.96-1.15). No significant associations were seen in the highest quintile of CRP (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.88-1.58). The results were similar in both sexes as well as among ADHD cases with or without comorbid ASD or conduct disorder. In this first study examining CRP, a biomarker for inflammation, during early pregnancy in relation to offspring ADHD, we report no significant associations. The lack of any association, when considered with positive findings seen in ASD and schizophrenia, and negative findings in bipolar disorder suggests different pathways linking maternal immune activation and development of various neuropsychiatric disorders.
Collapse
|
5
|
Cowell WJ, Bellinger DC, Wright RO, Wright RJ. Antenatal active maternal asthma and other atopic disorders is associated with ADHD behaviors among school-aged children. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 80:871-878. [PMID: 31158498 PMCID: PMC6660383 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.05.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying modifiable risk factors for neuropsychological correlates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in early childhood can inform prevention strategies. Prenatal inflammatory states, such as maternal asthma and other atopic disorders, have been increasingly linked to enhanced risk for neurobehavioral disorders in children, with some studies suggesting sex-specific effects. OBJECTIVES To assess the association between maternal active asthma and/or atopy in the antenatal period and child symptoms of ADHD during mid-childhood and, given the male-bias in ADHD prevalence, to examine modifying effects of child sex. STUDY DESIGN The study sample includes 250 maternal-child pairs enrolled in the Boston-based Asthma Coalition on Community, Environment and Social Stress (ACCESS) pregnancy cohort. We defined antenatal active atopy based on maternal report of current asthma, allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis during and/or in the year before pregnancy. When children were approximately 6 years old, mothers completed a battery of standardized child behavior rating scales designed for evaluating symptoms of ADHD. We used multivariable quantile regression to assess the relations between maternal antenatal atopy and symptoms of ADHD among children. RESULTS In adjusted models, maternal atopy was significantly associated with greater risk for ADHD behaviors, as indicated by scores on the Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised ADHD index (β = 3.32, 95% CI: 0.33, 6.32). In sex-stratified models this association was stronger among girls (5.96, 95% CI = 0.95, 10.96) compared to boys (-2.14, 95% CI = -5.75, 1.45, p-interaction = 0.01). Among girls, we observed a similar finding for the Behavior Assessment System for Children 2nd Edition Parent Rating Scale Attention Problems subscale (β = 7.77, 95% CI = 1.57, 13.97). Results from other outcome subscales were similar in magnitude and direction, however, associations did not reach statistical significance at the p = 0.05 level. CONCLUSIONS Maternal antenatal active atopy may be a risk factor for the development of ADHD-like symptoms, especially among girls.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Whitney J. Cowell
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - David C. Bellinger
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robert O. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rosalind J. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Department of Pediatrics, Kravis Children's Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gou X, Wang Y, Tang Y, Qu Y, Tang J, Shi J, Xiao D, Mu D. Association of maternal prenatal acetaminophen use with the risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in offspring: A meta-analysis. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2019; 53:195-206. [PMID: 30654621 DOI: 10.1177/0004867418823276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acetaminophen is a widely used medication for fever and pain management during pregnancy. However, recent studies have found a possible connection between maternal prenatal acetaminophen use and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children. OBJECTIVE We aimed to explore the association between maternal acetaminophen use during pregnancy and the risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in offspring. DATA SOURCES PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were searched from their initial publications through November 2018 for studies. STUDY SELECTION We included all studies that examined the association between maternal acetaminophen use during pregnancy and the risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in offspring if the authors reported odds ratios, risk ratios, hazard ratios, regression coefficient, standard error and 95% confidence intervals. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Two reviewers independently extracted data on the definition of exposure and outcome, exposed, non-exposed and total number of participants in the sample population, adjusted potential confounders and outcome parameters. Study quality was also assessed. RESULTS Eight cohort studies with a total of 244,940 participants were included. Maternal exposure to acetaminophen during pregnancy increased the risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in offspring with a pooled adjusted risk ratio of 1.25 (95% confidence interval = [1.17, 1.34]). Children exposed prenatally to acetaminophen in the third trimester seemed to have the greatest risk of developing attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (risk ratio: 1.26; 95% confidence interval = [1.08, 1.47]). In addition, a longer duration of maternal acetaminophen use during pregnancy was correlated with a higher risk ratio. Children whose mothers used acetaminophen for 28 or more days during gestation had a higher risk of developing attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (risk ratio: 1.63; 95% confidence interval = [1.23, 2.16]). CONCLUSION There is an association between maternal acetaminophen use during pregnancy and the risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in offspring. The timing and duration of acetaminophen use during pregnancy may have a major effect on the risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyun Gou
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,2 Key Laboratory of Obstetric & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Wang
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,2 Key Laboratory of Obstetric & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying Tang
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,2 Key Laboratory of Obstetric & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Qu
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,2 Key Laboratory of Obstetric & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jun Tang
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,2 Key Laboratory of Obstetric & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Shi
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,2 Key Laboratory of Obstetric & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dongqiong Xiao
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,2 Key Laboratory of Obstetric & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dezhi Mu
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,2 Key Laboratory of Obstetric & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ginsberg Y, D'Onofrio BM, Rickert ME, Class QA, Rosenqvist MA, Almqvist C, Lichtenstein P, Larsson H. Maternal infection requiring hospitalization during pregnancy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in offspring: a quasi-experimental family-based study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2019; 60:160-168. [PMID: 30136726 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal infection during pregnancy (IDP) has been associated with increased risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in offspring. However, infection is associated with social adversity, poor living conditions and other background familial factors. As such, there is a need to rule out whether the observed association between maternal IDP and ADHD might be attributed to such confounding. METHODS This nationwide population-based cohort study using a family-based, quasi-experimental design included 1,066,956 individuals born in Sweden between 1992 and 2002. Data on maternal IDP (bacterial or viral) requiring hospitalization and ADHD diagnosis in offspring were gathered from Swedish National Registers, with individuals followed up through the end of 2009. Ordinary and stratified Cox regression models were used for estimation of hazard ratios (HRs) and several measured covariates were considered. Cousin- and sibling-comparisons accounted for unmeasured genetic and environmental factors shared by cousins and siblings. RESULTS In the entire population, maternal IDP was associated with ADHD in offspring (HR = 2.31, 95% CI = 2.04-2.61). This association was attenuated when accounting for measured covariates (HR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.65-2.10). The association was further attenuated when adjusting for unmeasured factors shared between cousins (HR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.12-2.07). Finally, the association was fully attenuated in sibling comparisons (HR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.76-1.41). CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that the association between maternal IDP and offspring ADHD is largely due to unmeasured familial confounding. Our results underscore the importance of adjusting for unobserved familial risk factors when exploring risk factors for ADHD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ylva Ginsberg
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Brian M D'Onofrio
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Martin E Rickert
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Quetzal A Class
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mina A Rosenqvist
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Catarina Almqvist
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Pediatric Allergy and Pulmonology Unit at Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Paul Lichtenstein
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Henrik Larsson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Chen MH, Su TP, Chen YS, Hsu JW, Huang KL, Chang WH, Chen TJ, Bai YM. Comorbidity of Allergic and Autoimmune Diseases Among Patients With ADHD. J Atten Disord 2017; 21:219-227. [PMID: 23400216 DOI: 10.1177/1087054712474686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Patients with ADHD have been suggested to have increased risks of allergic diseases but without consistent results, and limited studies about the association between ADHD and autoimmune diseases were noted in the literature. METHOD Utilizing the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, ADHD patients were identified and compared with age- and gender-matched controls (1:4). RESULTS In all, 8,201 participants were identified as having ADHD, and an increased prevalence of allergic diseases, including asthma (odds ratio [OR] = 1.53), allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.59), atopic dermatitis (OR = 1.53), and urticaria (OR = 1.39), compared with the control group. Although the comorbidity of autoimmune diseases with ADHD was low, ADHD patients had a significantly greater prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis (OR = 2.78), ulcerative colitis (OR = 2.31), and autoimmune thyroid disease (OR = 2.53) than the controls. CONCLUSION Our results supported the association between ADHD and allergic/autoimmune diseases. The further studies will be required to clarify the underlying mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mu-Hong Chen
- 1 Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Ping Su
- 1 Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,2 Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Sheue Chen
- 1 Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ju-Wei Hsu
- 1 Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Lin Huang
- 1 Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,2 Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Han Chang
- 1 Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzeng-Ji Chen
- 3 Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,4 Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Mei Bai
- 1 Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,2 Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Strickland AD. Prevention of cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Med Hypotheses 2014; 82:522-8. [PMID: 24581674 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2014.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2013] [Revised: 01/24/2014] [Accepted: 02/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
This hypothesis states that cerebral palsy (CP), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are all caused by an exaggerated central nervous system inflammatory response to a prenatal insult. This prenatal insult may be one or more episodes of ischemia-reperfusion, an infectious disease of the mother or the fetus, or other causes of maternal inflammation such as allergy or autoimmune disease. The resultant fetal inflammatory hyper-response injures susceptible neurons in the developing white matter of the brain in specific areas at specific gestational ages. The exaggerated neuroinflammatory response is theorized to occur between about 19 and 34 post-conception weeks for CP, about 32 and 40 weeks for ADHD, and about 36 and 48 weeks (i.e. 2 months after delivery) for ASD. The exaggerated inflammatory response is hypothesized to occur because present diets limit intake of effective antioxidants and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids while increasing intake of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Oxidation products of the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) limit neuroinflammation while oxidation products of the omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid exacerbate inflammation. Preventative treatment should begin in all pregnant women during the first trimester and should include both DHA and an effective antioxidant for prevention of neuroinflammation. The suggested antioxidant would be N-acetylcysteine, though melatonin could be chosen instead. Combined DHA and NAC therapy is theorized to decrease the incidence of the three disorders by more than 75%.
Collapse
|
10
|
Haavik J, Halmøy A, Hegvik TA, Johansson S. Maternal genotypes as predictors of offspring mental health: the next frontier of genomic medicine? FUTURE NEUROLOGY 2011. [DOI: 10.2217/fnl.11.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Multiple lines of evidence have suggested that the in utero microenvironment is influenced by the maternal genotype and that such genetic differences can affect the prenatal development and long-term health of the offspring. This article reviews recent evidence for such effects on offspring mental health, with an emphasis on common neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder, autism and schizophrenia. We conclude that prenatal programming of offspring behavior has been found to be important both in humans and animal models and that this mechanism may explain some of the ‘missing heritability’ reported for genetic studies of complex disorders. Combining genetic and epidemiological research strategies, it is possible to disentangle the different effects of prenatal environmental and genetic exposures, which are particularly attractive candidates for primary prevention and early intervention strategies, for instance by correcting for metabolic deficiencies during critical weeks of prenatal development. Combined with advancing DNA sequencing and genotyping technologies, this knowledge may gradually transform our approach to psychiatric diagnostics, prevention and therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Anne Halmøy
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway
- Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Research on Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Bergen, Norway
| | - Tor-Arne Hegvik
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Research on Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Bergen, Norway
| | - Stefan Johansson
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Research on Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Bergen, Norway
- Center of Medical Genetics & Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| |
Collapse
|