Neurodevelopmental Disorders In Children Research Articles

Association between human herpesviruses infections and childhood neurodevelopmental disorders: insights from two-sample mendelian randomization analyses and systematic review with meta-analysis

BackgroundThe potential roles of viral infections in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) have been suggested based on previous studies. Given the high prevalence of human herpesviruses (HHVs), the associations between HHVs infection and the risk of NDDs warrant explored.MethodsOur study employs a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and systematic review with meta-analysis to investigate whether genetically predicted HHVs infection are linked to three main childhood NDDs—autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Tourette syndrome (TS). We utilized genetic variants associated with HHV infections in genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary datasets of European populations to establish instrumental variables and statistics for three NDDs obtained from Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. MR analysis was performed using inverse-variance weighted, MR Egger, weighted median, simple median, weighted mode, and MR-PRESSO. In addition, publications associating HHVs infection with three NDDs were systematically searched using PubMed, Web of Science, and three Chinese databases for meta-analyses.ResultsThe MR results found no evidence to support a link between genetically predicted HHVs infection and the risk of NDDs based on existing datasets. Twenty-seven observational studies on children with HHVs infection and NDDs were considered eligible. Meta-analysis showed that cytomegalovirus and HHV-6 infection were related with ASD, while Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus infection were associated with TD in Chinese population. Conclusions: These results contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the possibilities underlying HHV infections in affecting childhood NDDs. Further research is necessary to include larger and more robust statistics of HHV infections and NDDs.Trial registrationThis systematic review was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42024554169. Retrospectively registered 26 July 2024.

Mitochondrial related Mendelian randomization identifies causal associations between metabolic disorders and childhood neurodevelopmental disorders.

Childhood neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Tourette syndrome, are a predominant cause of health-related disabilities in children and adolescents. Nevertheless, disease biomarkers are still limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential, causal relationship between mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN), metabolic disorders, and childhood NDDs using the two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method. Genetic associations with mtDNA-CN, disorders of lipoprotein metabolism, and disorders of iron metabolism were selected as exposures, and genome-wide association data from ASD, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Tourette syndrome were utilized as outcomes. Results of the study suggested that a high degree of disordered lipoprotein metabolism related increases in ASD risk result from a decrease in mtDNA-CN (disordered lipoprotein metabolism-mtDNA: inverse variance weighting β: -0.03, 95% confidence interval: -0.05 to -0.02, P = 2.08 × 10-5; mtDNA-CN-ASD: inverse variance weighting odds ratio: 0.83, 95% confidence interval: 0.69-0.99, P = .034). The research findings implied that mtDNA-CN can mediate disorders of lipoprotein metabolism, potentially influencing the development of ASD. The potential impact of the results of this study for the prevention and treatment of childhood NDDs warrants validation in robust randomized clinical trials.

Research progress on neurodevelopmental disorders associated with congenital heart disease

The incidence and disability rate of neurodevelopmental disorders in children are high, making it a significant public health issue affecting children's health globally. Neurodevelopmental disorders are particularly common in children with congenital heart disease (CHD), with clinical characteristics varying by type of CHD, surgical approach, age stage, and the presence of different complications or comorbidities. In recent years, based on the intervention model of "early diagnosis and early treatment," foreign studies have begun to explore new techniques for preventive early intervention in high-risk children with neurodevelopmental disorders, achieving promising results. This paper reviews the clinical characteristics of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with CHD, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for implementing new preventive early intervention techniques for children with CHD, thereby further reducing the incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with CHD.

Comparative Efficacy of Family-Mediated Intervention Versus Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention on Developmental Domains in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder of childhood in which there is a deficit in social and communicative skill, and the child shows restricted and repetitive behavior. For children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, family-mediated intervention and early intensive behavioral intervention are considered standard of care. The study aimed to compare their efficacy on social skills and other developmental domains in our cultural context. Methods: This study was a parallel-arm, open-label, randomized active-controlled clinical trial. Fifty children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder were randomly assigned to either the family-mediated intervention or early intensive behavioral intervention groups. Communication DEALL Developmental Checklist was applied at 0, 12, and 24 weeks. Results: The difference in the mean value of Communication DEALL Developmental Checklist at the end of 24 weeks from the initial value was significantly better in the family-mediated intervention as compared to the early intensive behavioral intervention group in social (mean difference = −16.8, 95% CI = −27.18, −6.49, p = .002) as well as fine motor, cognitive, and overall development. In other developmental domains of Communication DEALL Developmental Checklist, the family-mediated intervention group performed better in comparison to the early intensive behavioral intervention group at different time periods although not statistically significant. Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that, throughout the course of 24 weeks of treatment, autism spectrum disorder children in family-mediated intervention showed a distinct improvement in major developmental domains. Family-mediated intervention can be advocated for autism spectrum disorder children in our cultural context in view of improved functioning in major developmental domains in the background of our study findings.

Impaired emotional multimodal integration in inhibition of return in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children. Previous studies have shown that children with ADHD have impaired processing of emotional stimuli, but it is unclear whether their ability to integrate multimodal emotional stimuli is impaired and at which processing pathway this impairment exists. The present study investigated the ability of children with ADHD to integrate emotional audiovisual stimuli under different emotional conditions, and the effect of audiovisual integration on IOR to reveal the impaired processing pathway of their emotional audiovisual integration. Fifty-eight school-age children (29 with ADHD and 29 matched typically developing (TD) children) performed an emotional valence discrimination task with a cue-target paradigm. The results showed that children with ADHD did not exhibit audiovisual integration of emotional stimuli in all experimental conditions. In addition, the IOR effect was significantly smaller for audiovisual targets than for visual targets under the negative but not the neutral emotion condition in children with ADHD, whereas this effect was present in all emotion conditions in TD children. These results indicate that the ability to integrate emotional audiovisual information is impaired in children with ADHD and this impairment exists in both bottom-up and top-down pathways. Additionally, although presenting emotional auditory stimuli at the same time as emotional faces reduced IOR both in children with ADHD and TD, the manner of reduction differed. These findings provide new evidence of emotional processing deficits and multimodal integration deficits in children with ADHD, and help provide support for children in educational settings.

Screening biomarkers for autism spectrum disorder using plasma proteomics combined with machine learning methods

Background and aimsAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children. Early intervention is effective. Investigation of novel blood biomarkers of ASD facilitates early detection and intervention. Materials and MethodsSequential window acquisition of all theoretical spectra-mass spectrometry (SWATH-MS)-based proteomics technology and 30 DSM-V defined ASD cases versus age- and sex-matched controls were initially evaluated, and candidate biomarkers were screened using machine learning methods. Candidate biomarkers were validated by targeted proteomics multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) analysis using an independent group of 30 ASD cases vs. controls. ResultsFifty-one differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified by SWATH analysis. They were associated with the immune response, complements and coagulation cascade pathways, and apolipoprotein-related metabolic pathways. Machine learning analysis screened 10 proteins as biomarker combinations (TFRC, PPBP, APCS, ALDH1A1, CD5L, SPARC, FGG, SHBG, S100A9, and PF4V1). In the MRM analysis, four proteins (PPBP, APCS, FGG, and PF4V1) were significantly different between the groups, and their combination as a screening indicator showed high potential (AUC = 0.8087, 95 % confidence interval 0.6904–0.9252, p < 0.0001). ConclusionsOur study provides data that suggests that a few plasma proteins have potential use in screening for ASD.

Assessing the Neurodevelopmental Impact of Fluoxetine, Citalopram, and Paroxetine on Neural Stem Cell-Derived Neurons

Background/Objectives: Many pregnant women globally suffer from depression and are routinely prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs function by blocking the re-uptake of serotonin by the serotonin transporter (SERT) into neurons, resulting in its accumulation in the presynaptic cleft. Despite a large amount of research suggesting a potential link to neurodevelopmental disorders in children whose mothers took these drugs during pregnancy, their possible adverse effects are still debated, and results are contradictory. On the other hand, there is an immediate need for improved cell-based models for developmental neurotoxicity studies (DNT) to minimize the use of animals in research. Methods: In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of clinically relevant concentrations of paroxetine (PAR), fluoxetine (FLX), and citalopram (CIT)—on maturing neurons derived from human neural stem cells using multiple endpoints. Results: Although none of the tested concentrations of FLX, CIT, or PAR significantly affected cell viability, FLX (10 µM) exhibited the highest reduction in viability compared to the other drugs. Regarding neurite outgrowth, CIT did not have a significant effect. However, FLX (10 µM) significantly reduced both mean neurite outgrowth and mean processes, PAR significantly reduced mean processes, and showed a trend of dysregulation of multiple genes associated with neuronal development at therapeutic-relevant serum concentrations. Conclusions: Transcriptomic data and uptake experiments found no SERT activity in the system, suggesting that the adverse effects of FLX and PAR are independent of SERT.

Altered metabolic profiles in male offspring conceived from intracytoplasmic sperm injection

BackgroundWhile most research has focused on the association between intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and neurodevelopmental disorders in children, relatively little attention has been given to its metabolic effects. Previous studies have reported that low serum lipid levels are associated with mental health problems. Our objective was to analyze the impact of ICSI on metabolic alterations compared to their in vitro fertilization (IVF) counterparts in male offspring, as well as its interaction with paternal overweight/obesity.MethodsWe recruited families between January 2006 and December 2017 at the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, China. Prospective data of offspring were obtained for body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, glucose, and lipid profile in their 0–11 years old. Linear mixed models were utilized to compute the mean difference and 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsA total of 14,196 offspring visits were identified. In offspring aged 4–11 years, ICSI-conceived offspring exhibited significantly lower fasting glucose z-scores, total cholesterol z-scores, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) z-scores compared with their IVF counterparts (fasting glucose z-score: adjusted mean difference: − 0.13, 95% CI: − 0.23 to − 0.03; total cholesterol z-score: adjusted mean difference: − 0.13, 95% CI: − 0.23 to − 0.02; LDL-C z-score: adjusted mean difference: − 0.12, 95% CI: − 0.22 to − 0.01). Paternal overweight/obesity significantly influenced the relationship between ICSI and metabolic changes in offspring. In offspring born from fathers with overweight/obesity, ICSI-conceived offspring displayed significantly lower fasting glucose and total cholesterol z-scores than their IVF controls (fasting glucose z-score: adjusted mean difference: − 0.20, 95% CI: − 0.32 to − 0.08; total cholesterol z-score: adjusted mean difference: − 0.15, 95% CI: − 0.27 to − 0.02). In offspring born to fathers with normal weight, ICSI-conceived offspring showed significantly lower systolic blood pressure z-scores compared to those conceived via the IVF procedures (adjusted mean difference: − 0.21, 95% CI: − 0.37 to − 0.05).ConclusionsThe findings of this study suggested that ICSI was associated with altered glucose and lipid profiles compared to their IVF controls, characterized by lower fasting glucose z-scores, total cholesterol z-scores, and LDL-C z-scores. Encouraging fathers to reduce their body weight could potentially improve the metabolic health of their ICSI-conceived children.

Serum Vitamin D Level in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Abstract Background Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and adolescence. Dietary interventions such as omega-3 FA, vitamin and mineral supplementations might affect ADHD symptoms. Aim To compare serum level of vitamin D in children with ADHD with its different subtypes in relation to healthy controls. Methods a case control study was conducted on 108 children divided equally between healthy children and ADHD cases. Vit D was measured. Assessment of habitual vitamin D intake was done by using a vitamin D food frequency questionnaire. Results The median weekly vitamin D intake for the ADHD group was significantly lower than that for the control group, p &amp;lt; 0. 001. The ADHD group had significantly lower 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D level the control group (p &amp;lt; 0. 001). Vitamin D level was considered independent predictor of ADHD susceptibility. Conclusion Patients with ADHD have lower serum concentrations of 25- hydroxyvitamin D than do healthy children.

Prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder among Primary School Children in Hyderabad, South India

Purpose: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is among the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood, and its incidence has increased in recent years. However, the frequency of ADHD varies significantly across different countries and regions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ADHD among primary school children in Hyderabad, India, as well as to raise awareness about ADHD among teachers.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 700 school-aged children between 5 and 12 years old, selected according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The teachers' version of the Vanderbilt Assessment Scale, a rating scale grounded in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) diagnostic criteria, was employed to diagnose ADHD. Results: The prevalence of ADHD in this study was 9.57% (67 out of 700), with a mean age of 8.9 years. ADHD was more prevalent in boys than in girls, with a sex ratio of 3:1. The combined type of ADHD was the most common (52.3%), followed by the attention deficit type (29.8%) and the hyperactive-impulsive type (17.9%). Conclusion: The prevalence of ADHD among schoolchildren in middle-income countries, such as India, is sufficiently high to impose a significant societal burden. Therefore, it is imperative that all elementary school teachers receive training on how to screen for indicators of ADHD.

Neurodevelopmental outcomes in children prenatally exposed to opioid maintenance treatment: A population-based study.

Opioid maintenance treatment (OMT), with methadone or buprenorphine, is a key approach for managing opioid use disorder (OUD) during pregnancy. Despite buprenorphine's superior short-term outcomes, its long-term effects remain understudied. This study aims to evaluate the effects of prenatal OMT exposure on the incidence of childhood neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) considering timing effect. A retrospective cohort study using Rhode Island Medicaid data linked to vital statistics from 2008 to 2018 was conducted. The study included pregnancies having live birth from 2008 to 2016 with continuous Medicaid insurance and OUD diagnosis within 3 months preceding conception until delivery. At least one buprenorphine dispensing or a claim of methadone was required for exposure definition. Exposure was evaluated during early (0-90 days) or late (>90 days) gestation, or at any pregnancy phase. NDDs, including autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, speech/language disorders, developmental coordination disorder, intellectual disability, and behavioral disorders, were identified using validated algorithms. Applying Cox proportional-hazard models with propensity score overlap weighting, adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) were calculated, mitigating potential confounders. Children were followed up from birth until NDD diagnosis, disenrollment, or study end. Of 416 mother-child dyads with OUD, 40% used methadone and 20% had buprenorphine exposure during pregnancy. NDDs were observed in 36% of children with early methadone exposure compared to 17% in the early buprenorphine exposed group (aHR: 2.75; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42-5.35). Further comparison to late buprenorphine exposure, late methadone exposure was associated with higher NDD risk (aHR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.09-3.86). Compared to unexposed group, children exposed to methadone during early and late periods showed higher NDD incidences (aHR: 2.33; 95% CI: 1.51-3.60 and aHR: 2.42; 95% CI: 1.54-3.80, respectively). The study suggests that buprenorphine is a good treatment option for OUD during pregnancy due to minimal long-term neurodevelopmental impacts on children. However, further extensive research is necessary to rule-out potential confounding.

Neurodevelopmental disorders in children born to mothers involved in maternal motor vehicle crashes.

To evaluate the association between maternal MVCs during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs, including intellectual disability, ADHD, ASD, and infantile cerebral palsy) in children. This population-based cohort of live births in Taiwan was analyzed, comparing children born to mothers involved in MVCs during pregnancy with those without such exposure. Children were linked to the insurance database to identify the possible diagnosis of NDDs. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the relative hazards. A total of 19,277 children with maternal MVCs and 76,015 children without exposure were included. Children exposed to maternal MVCs during the first two trimesters or whose mothers sustained mild to severe injuries showed a higher risk of intellectual disability. Severe maternal injuries also increased the risk of infantile cerebral palsy (aHR = 3.86; 1.27-11.78). MVCs in the third trimester, or mild maternal injuries, were associated with a higher risk of ASD (third trimester: aHR = 1.40; 1.04-1.87; mild injuries: aHR = 1.38; 1.09-1.74). Children exposed to maternal MVCs with severe injuries had a higher risk of intellectual disability and cerebral palsy. Third-trimester exposure may increase the risk of ASD. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously as genetic factors may contribute to the observed association. There is some evidence linking maternal MVCs during pregnancy to the development of neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Children of mothers with severely injured were more likely to suffer from infantile cerebral palsy and intellectual disability. The risk of autism spectrum disorder is higher in children whose mothers are involved in MVCs during the late stage of pregnancy, and there is also an increased risk of intellectual disability during the first two trimesters.

Resting-state brain network analysis and applied evaluation of global developmental delay in preterm infants: A functional near-infrared spectroscopic study

Global developmental delay (GDD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children under 5 years of age. This study assessed the potential of functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology aiding diagnosis of GDD in premature infants and explored brain pathogenesis of GDD. This prospective cohort study was conducted between December 2020 and June 2023 among preterm infants in five hospitals in China. The primary outcome was the diagnosis of GDD. A 5-min fNIRS brain scan was performed in preterm infants at 4-, 8-, and 12-month corrected age in two hospitals. A diagnostic model based on fNIRS brain network and an integrated diagnostic model built on fNIRS data as well as birth head circumference was developed. Diagnostic models were assessed using the area under the curve (AUC) from receiver operating characteristic curves. Brain network analysis revealed significantly worse left-sided functional connectivity in GDD preterm infants. The fNIRS technique had satisfactory diagnostic value for GDD in all age groups. The diagnostic accuracy of the combined diagnostic model significantly improved. This study suggested that fNIRS could be considered for early screening and late auxiliary diagnosis of GDD in preterm infants. Furthermore, it can also be used to explore GDD brain pathogenesis.

Socio-medical Factors Associated with Neurodevelopmental Disorders on the Kenyan Coast.

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a group of conditions with their onset during the early developmental period and include conditions such as autism, intellectual disability and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Occurrence of NDDs is thought to be determined by both genetic and environmental factors, but data on the role of environmental risk factors for NDD in Africa is limited. This study investigates environmental influences on NDDs in children from Kenya. This case-control study compared children with NDDs and typically developing children from two studies on the Kenyan coast that did not overlap. We included 172 of the study participants from the Kilifi Autism Study and 151 from the NeuroDev Study who had a diagnosis of at least one NDD and 112 and 73 with no NDD diagnosis from each study, respectively. Potential risk factors were identified using unadjusted univariable analysis and adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis. Univariable analysis in the Kilifi Autism Study sample revealed hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy conferred the largest odds ratio (OR) 10.52 (95%CI 4.04 - 27.41) for NDDs, followed by medical complications during pregnancy (gestational hypertension & diabetes, eclampsia, and maternal bleeding) OR: 3.17 (95%CI 1.61 - 6.23). In the NeuroDev study sample, labour and birth complications (OR: 7.30 (2.17 - 24.61)), neonatal jaundice (OR: 5.49 (95%CI 1.61 - 18.72)) and infection during pregnancy (OR: 5.31 (1.56 - 18.11)) conferred the largest risk associated with NDDs. In the adjusted analysis, seizures before age 3 years in the Kilifi Autism study and labour and birth complications in the NeuroDev study conferred the largest increased risk. Higher parity, the child being older and delivery at home were associated with a reduced risk for NDDs. Recognition of important risk factors such as labour and birth complications could guide preventative interventions, developmental screening of at-risk children and monitoring progress. Further studies examining the aetiology of NDDs in population-based samples, including investigating the interaction between genetic and environmental factors, are needed.

Female Infertility and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children: associations and evidence for familial confounding in Denmark.

Existing research suggests the impact of infertility on the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children, however, studies to date have failed to separate the impact of male and female infertility, often blurring the lines with proxies that encompass all forms of infertility. Moreover, while both health conditions co-occurring with infertility and genetic factors operating upstream have been suggested to influence the association between infertility and child outcomes, their roles and potential impact on observed associations remain unclear. The objectives of this study are to investigate the relationship between female infertility and autism in the child, differentiating it from the effects of male and the couple infertility; consider the role of various maternal and birth factors in the association; and examine the effects of shared familial confounders on the association. Danish population-based cohort study, including all singleton live births in Denmark 1998-2015, their parents and parents' siblings. The cohort was followed up until December 31, 2016. The exposure was a history of female infertility in the mother and the mother's sister. We examined four definitions of female infertility based on the ICD-10 codes derived from the Danish National Patient Register - any female infertility; specified female infertility; female exclusive infertility; and female or male infertility. The outcome was diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register or the national patient register. A multivariable Cox regression model was used to estimate the associations between female infertility and autism, accounting for child's sex, year of birth, maternal age, education level, chronic comorbidities, and pregnancy and birth complications. The effects of shared familial factors on the association were analyzed using exposure information from the child's maternal aunt. The cohort included 1,131,899 mother-child pairs, among which 18,374 children with ASD diagnosis. History of female infertility in the mother (all definitions) was significantly associated with autism in the child, with the association remaining robust after adjustment for covariates (HRadj=1.14 (95% CI, 1.03-1.26) for specified infertility). The diagnosis of infertility in a child's maternal aunt was also significantly linked to the child's autism risk, even after adjustment for maternal infertility (HRadj=1.10 (95% CI, 1.00-1.20). in This population-based birth cohort study, we found a slightly higher risk of autism in children born to mothers with a history of infertility, with the association remaining consistent across various definitions of female infertility and robust to adjustments for demographic, child, and maternal factors. The study suggests for the first time that shared familial factors, possibly both genetic and non-genetic, could be influencing both female infertility and the risk of autism in children, indicating a need for further investigation into these familial effects.

Association of Parental Prenatal Mental Health on Offspring Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Parental prenatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD) are linked to child neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), but evaluations of the magnitude and mechanisms of this association are limited. This study estimates the strength of the association and whether it is impacted by genetic and environmental factors. A systematic search of PubMed, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, OVID, and Google Scholar was performed for articles published from January 1988 to January 2024. Of 2,170 articles screened, 64 met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses were conducted on 20 studies, and 44 were included in the narrative synthesis. We conducted random-effects meta-analyses, along with tests for heterogeneity (I2) and publication bias (Egger's test). The review followed PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. Maternal PMADs were associated with a significantly increased risk of ADHD (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.45-2.52) and ASD (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.37-1.81) in children. Paternal PMADs were also associated with the risk of NDDs, with combined odds for ASD and ADHD (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.15-1.34). Several studies suggested that the link between parental PMADs and offspring NDDs might be impacted by both genetic and environmental factors, including the impact of ongoing parental depression on child behavior. Parental PMADs are significantly associated with an increased risk of NDDs in children. These associations may be influenced by both genetic predispositions and environmental factors. Understanding these pathways is important for informing interventions aimed at mitigating mental health risks in families and supporting child development.

Sex Differences in ADHD Symptomatology Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorders diagnosed in the world. In this thesis, I investigated sex differences in the symptomatology of childhood ADHD within a Canadian sample while also seeking to see if these symptoms increased throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were drawn from a larger study examining child and family impact throughout the pandemic. Unexpectedly, no significant differences were found in childhood ADHD symptomatology between sexes both at the onset of the study and throughout the pandemic. However, a general increase in ADHD symptom severity throughout the pandemic was in fact found. Further investigation found this increase to be influenced in part by the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on children. These findings support the current literature of post-pandemic changes in the symptomatology of ADHD and suggest that further research be done to understand what factors brought about this increase in symptom severity.

¿Ha influido la pandemia por COVID-19 en el desarrollo neurológico de los niños?

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a change in social interactions that may have had an impact on children’s neurodevelopment. We carried out a cohort study including all children born in the years 2017 and 2020 in the Autonomous Community of Aragon (Spain), with a sample of 21 484 patients; comparing the neurodevelopmental disorder diagnoses coded in two groups of patients (born pre- and. post-pandemic). We found an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorder in children born in 2020 compared to children born in 2017, which was statistically significant in the areas of language and behaviour.

Clinical Profile of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children at a Tertiary Care Center.

Background Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) encompass intricate interactions among genetic, brain, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes. These disorders, which are influenced by hereditary and environmental factors, impair personal, social, intellectual, or occupational functioning. Typically emerging early in life, NDDs include conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), vision and hearing impairments, motor disorders, and specific learning disabilities. Children from impoverished and low-income neighborhoods are particularly vulnerable. The lack of comprehensive health data and public awareness about these conditions results in limited information regarding the prevalence of neurological illnesses in developing countries. India, with its large and ethnically diverse population, exemplifies this gap. Methods It is a prospective study to detect the prevalence and risk factors of neurodevelopmental disorders in children aged six months to nine years at a tertiary care center. Patient details, clinical findings, and relevant history were recorded on a pre-designed pro forma and analyzed statistically. Results Among the 1000 children in the study, 91 (9.1%) tested positive for NDDs. Among the 91 children who tested positive for NDD, the highest frequency is in the three to four years age group (17.6%), males were found to be in a higher ratio with 75.82%, with the male: female ratio being 3:1. Among the 91 children with NDD, intellectual disability was the most common disorder (20.9%), followed by ADHD (17.6%) and vision impairment (14.3%). Autism spectrum disorders, including autism and Asperger syndrome, and communication disorders, including stuttering and speech disorders, accounted for 13.2% each. Hearing loss was seen in 9.9% of children and multiple disorders were seen in 8.8% of the children from among 91 children. Conclusion Neurodevelopmental disorders are common and often coexist with other conditions. Children from low-income backgrounds are more affected. This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and characteristics of NDDs in a specific population.

Coordination and Referral Platforms for Children Aged 7 and Under with Suspected Neurodevelopmental Outcome: What Data for Research on Care and Developmental Trajectories?

At the core of the child's medical, social, and educational pathway, coordination and referral platforms (CRPs) for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) have been gradually deployed in France since 2018 and support the early detection of NDDs in children. The 112 nationwide CRPs do not benefit from a common electronic health record system. Our aim was to propose an HER model for CRP to enable real-life data reuse, optimize care pathway management and conduct pre-screening for research. CRP data were collected (n=34) into an application enriched by a NLP tool extracting standardized scales for NDDs assessments from medical and paramedical professionals. NLP tool evaluation presented a precision of 86.4% and recall of 90.5%. CRP support was provided to 195 children included between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023, aged 4 years, with a sex ratio of 2.8, with delays reported in language (75%) and concerned by global developmental delays (16%). Children's ND phenotype and care pathway description could be automated by a harmonized and structured EHR. While many clinical situations are at an impasse, real-life data-driven evidence is particularly relevant in the context of NDDs, where early intervention plays such a key role in children's development and prognosis. A harmonized and enriched CRP database could benefit both individual and public health levels with pathway monitoring, intervention proposals and research pre-screenings.