Risk For ADHD Research Articles

Alarmingly high prevalence and lack of gender differences in ADHD among high school students: Screening for ADHD with ASRS among adolescents and working adults

Abstract Introduction: The aim was to examine the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) among adolescents and adult working populations of different genders, the prevalence of ADHD, and its relationship to stress. Materials and methods: A sample of 723 professionally active people and 1744 high school students participated in the study. Part A of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) was used to measure ADHD and the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4) was used to measure stress. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the original 6-item two-factor solution of ASRS Part A had a satisfactory fit and showed basic measurement invariance between age groups and genders. Inattention and hyperactivity were related mostly similarly to stress in all groups. The prevalence of ADHD among adolescents was much higher than in previous reports, and no gender differences were found. About every fifth high school student and every tenth adult showed a risk of ADHD. The potential cause of the difference in the prevalence in the studied groups can be generation change. Conclusions: ASRS is a well-functioning screening measure with good psychometric properties. It is a convenient option for large-scale epidemiological surveys necessary to understand potential generational changes in the prevalence of ADHD and the lack of gender differences among adolescents.

Mapping the cortico-striatal transcriptome in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Despite advances in identifying rare and common genetic variants conferring risk for ADHD, the lack of a transcriptomic understanding of cortico-striatal brain circuitry has stymied a molecular mechanistic understanding of this disorder. To address this gap, we mapped the transcriptome of the caudate nucleus and anterior cingulate cortex in post-mortem tissue from 60 individuals with and without ADHD. Significant differential expression of genes was found in the anterior cingulate cortex and, to a lesser extent, the caudate. Significant downregulation emerged of neurotransmitter gene pathways, particularly glutamatergic, in keeping with models that implicate these neurotransmitters in ADHD. Consistent with the genetic overlap between mental disorders, correlations were found between the cortico-striatal transcriptomic changes seen in ADHD and those seen in other neurodevelopmental and mood disorders. This transcriptomic evidence points to cortico-striatal neurotransmitter anomalies in the pathogenesis of ADHD, consistent with current models of the disorder.

Chlorpyrifos residue level and ADHD among children aged 1-6 years in rural China: A cross-sectional study.

BackgroundAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and is caused by both genetic and environmental factors. As genetic factors are nonmodifiable, environmental factors have attracted increasing attention.ObjectiveTo investigate the relationships between urinary chlorpyrifos (CPF) levels, blood micronutrient levels, and ADHD prevalence in children living in rural areas of China.MethodsThis cross-sectional study collected data on CPF exposure (according to urinary levels), blood micronutrient levels, and ADHD prevalence in children aged 1–6 years in rural China. The CPF levels were determined by mass spectrometry. Blood levels of micronutrients, including zinc, iron, calcium, copper, magnesium, and vitamin D, were measured by professional detection kits. ADHD was diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition. Descriptive statistics and univariate analysis were conducted using SPSS 21.0, and path analysis was conducted using Mplus 8.0.ResultsOf the 738 children who met the eligibility criteria, 673 children (673/738, 91.2%) were included in the final analysis. Baseline questionnaires and urine samples were collected from all 673 subjects. A total of 672 children provided blood samples for micronutrient testing, and 651 completed the ADHD assessment. Approximately one-fifth of children (144/673, 21.4%) had detectable levels of CPF in their urine, and 6.9% (45/651) were diagnosed with ADHD. Path analysis showed that the total effect of CPF exposure on ADHD risk was 0.166 (P < 0.05), with a direct effect of 0.197 (P < 0.05) and an indirect effect of −0.031 (P < 0.05) via vitamin D. The mediating effect of urinary CPF levels on ADHD risk via vitamin D was 18.67%.ConclusionHigher levels of CPF exposure are associated with higher risk of ADHD. Additionally, increasing vitamin D levels may have a beneficial effect on the relationship between CPF exposure and ADHD risk. Our findings highlight the importance of modifying environmental factors to reduce ADHD risk and provide insight into future ADHD interventions.

7.4 Adolescent Pesticide Exposure and ADHD Risk: Mechanisms of Immediate Effect and Long-Term Vulnerability

ADHD risks in adolescents are substantial, dramatically increasing failed relationships, unemployment, and accidental injury and death as youth enter adulthood. Adolescents have substantial pesticide exposure, especially those youth employed as agricultural pesticide applicators, which are jobs they hold in many countries. Exposures in adolescent pesticide applicators to chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin have links with ADHD symptoms and related cognitive processes, acutely and persistently. No animal studies have examined pesticide exposures during adolescence for their impacts on ADHD-relevant outcomes needed to understand multiple aspects of this relationship: 1) causality; 2) the importance of individual pesticides vs their combination; 3) mechanisms playing a role in outcomes; and 4) any longer-term risk for youth.

3.10 Self-Control Depletion, Frustration Tolerance, Irritability, and Engagement in Risky Behaviors in College Students With ADHD Risk

To expand upon the existing literature on college students with ADHD, this study used the Strength Model of Self-Control as a theoretical framework and: 1) experimentally investigated associations between self-control resource depletion, frustration tolerance, and irritability; and 2) considered associations between frustration tolerance, irritability, and engagement in risky behaviors (ERBs) for which college students with ADHD are at elevated risk.

22.2 Identification of Shared and Differentiating Genetic Risk for ASD, ADHD, and Case Subgroups

ADHD and ASD are highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorders with a considerable overlap in their genetic etiology. We designed our study to dissect their shared and distinct genetic architecture by cross-disorder analyses.

22.3 Working Memory and Reaction Time Variability Mediate the Relationship Between Polygenic Risk and ADHD-like Traits: Evidence From a General Population Sample

Endophenotypes are heritable and quantifiable traits indexing genetic liability for a disorder. Here we examined which potential cognitive endophenotypes (working memory, response inhibition, and reaction time variability) statically mediate the relationship between the genetic risk for ADHD and ADHD-like traits reported in a large population-based sample.

Epidemiological Study of Parental Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Subsequent Risk of ADHD in Their Children: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), with daytime drowsiness, nocturnal hypoxia, could result in systemic inflammation and oxidative damage. We hypothesize that parental OSA, with chronic systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, might contribute to children’s neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ADHD. Method: By linking National Birth Registry with the National Health Insurance Research Database, Taiwan, we identified 2006–2015 birth cohort, which comprised 1,723,873 singleton live births, and conducted a nested case-control study. We included children with ADHD and compared them with non-ADHD controls matched with ADHD case on index date. Conditional logistic regression was utilized to calculate adjusted odds ratio (aOR) when investigating the association between parental diseases with risk of ADHD in their offspring. Results: The aOR (95% CI) of offspring’s ADHD was 1.758 (1.458–2.119) with paternal OSA and 2.159 (1.442–3.233) with maternal OSA. The subgroup analysis revealed different effects of parental diseases among children’s gender. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates an association in parental OSA and offspring ADHD, which could inspire further research to clarify the mechanisms.

The Relationship of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization and Population-Based Sibling Comparison Study

BackgroundAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are associated, but it is unclear if this is a causal relationship or confounding. We used genetic analyses and sibling comparisons to clarify the direction of this relationship. MethodsLinkage disequilibrium score regression and 2-sample Mendelian randomization were used to test for genetic correlation (rg) and bidirectional causal effects using European ancestry genome-wide association studies of ADHD (20,183 cases and 35,191 controls) and 6 PTSD definitions (up to 320,369 individuals). Several additional variables were included in the analysis to verify the independence of the ADHD-PTSD relationship. In a population-based sibling comparison (N = 2,082,118 individuals), Cox regression models were fitted to account for time at risk, a range of sociodemographic factors, and unmeasured familial confounders (via sibling comparisons). ResultsADHD and PTSD had consistent rg (rg range, 0.43–0.52; p < .001). ADHD genetic liability was causally linked with increased risk for PTSD (β = 0.367; 95% CI, 0.186–0.552; p = 7.68 × 10−5). This result was not affected by heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy (Mendelian randomization Egger intercept = 4.34 × 10−4, p = .961), or other phenotypes and was consistent across PTSD datasets. However, we found no consistent associations between PTSD genetic liability and ADHD risk. Individuals diagnosed with ADHD were at a higher risk for developing PTSD than their undiagnosed sibling (hazard ratio = 2.37; 95% CI, 1.98–3.53). ConclusionsOur findings add novel evidence supporting the need for early and effective treatment of ADHD, as patients with this diagnosis are at significantly higher risk to develop PTSD later in life.

How interactions between ADHD and schools affect educational achievement: a family-based genetically sensitive study.

Children with ADHD tend to achieve less than their peers in school. It is unknown whether schools moderate this association. Nonrandom selection of children into schools related to variations in their ADHD risk poses a methodological problem. We linked data on ADHD symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity and parent-child ADHD polygenic scores (PGS) from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) to achievement in standardised tests and school identifiers. We estimated interactions of schools with individual differences between students in inattention, hyperactivity, and ADHD-PGS using multilevel models with random slopes for ADHD effects on achievement over schools. In our PGS analyses, we adjust for parental selection of schools by adjusting for parental ADHD-PGS (a within-family PGS design). We then tested whether five school sociodemographic measures explained any interactions. Analysis of up to 23,598 students attending 2,579 schools revealed interactions between school and ADHD effects on achievement. The variability between schools in the effects of inattention, hyperactivity and within-family ADHD-PGS on achievement was 0.08, 0.07 and 0.05 SDs, respectively. For example, the average effect of inattention on achievement was β = -0.23 (SE = 0.009), but in 2.5% of schools with the weakest effects, the value was -0.07 or less. ADHD has a weaker effect on achievement in higher-performing schools. Schools make more of a difference to the achievements of students with higher levels of ADHD, explaining over four times as much variance in achievement for those with high versus average inattention symptoms. School sociodemographic measures could not explain the ADHD-by-school interactions. Although ADHD symptoms and genetic risk tend to hinder achievement, schools where their effects are weaker do exist. Differences between schools in support for children with ADHD should be evened out.

Is genetic risk of ADHD mediated via dopaminergic mechanism? A study of functional connectivity in ADHD and pharmacologically challenged healthy volunteers with a genetic risk profile

Recent GWAS allow us to calculate polygenic risk scores for ADHD. At the imaging level, resting-state fMRI analyses have given us valuable insights into changes in connectivity patterns in ADHD patients. However, no study has yet attempted to combine these two different levels of investigation. For this endeavor, we used a dopaminergic challenge fMRI study (L-DOPA) in healthy participants who were genotyped for their ADHD, MDD, schizophrenia, and body height polygenic risk score (PRS) and compared results with a study comparing ADHD patients and healthy controls. Our objective was to evaluate how L-DOPA-induced changes of reward-system-related FC are dependent on the individual polygenic risk score. FMRI imaging was used to evaluate resting-state functional connectivity (FC) of targeted subcortical structures in 27 ADHD patients and matched controls. In a second study, we evaluated the effect of ADHD and non-ADHD PRS in a L-DOPA-based pharmaco-fMRI-challenge in 34 healthy volunteers. The functional connectivity between the putamen and parietal lobe was decreased in ADHD patients. In healthy volunteers, the FC between putamen and parietal lobe was lower in ADHD high genetic risk participants. This direction of connectivity was reversed during L-DOPA challenge. Further findings are described for other dopaminergic subcortical structures. The FC between the putamen and the attention network showed the most consistent change in patients as well as in high-risk participants. Our results suggest that FC of the dorsal attention network is altered in adult ADHD as well as in healthy controls with higher genetic risk.

Genome Guided Personalized Drug Therapy in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

ADHD is a common behavioral syndrome with a heritability of 70–80%. Genome wide sequencing and association studies indicate that ADHD risk variants are distributed across a wide range of allele frequencies and relative risks. Several common single nucleotide variants (SNPs) have been identified that increase the risk of ADHD with a few percent. Many of the reported risk genes and copy number variants are shared with other neuropsychiatric disorders. Moreover, ADHD often coexists with common or rare somatic diseases, including rare Mendelian neurometabolic diseases that can affect normal brain development and function. Some genetic/metabolic syndromes masquerading as common ADHD may lead to irreversible brain damage if not properly identified and treated during early childhood. As ADHD is such a heterogeneous condition in terms of severity, clinical features and most probably also underlying biology, it is crucial to offer individualized treatments. Recent progress in ADHD genetics is reviewed, prospects of using this information for targeted pharmacotherapy are discussed and critical knowledge gaps are identified. It is suggested that genome guided therapies could be introduced gradually, starting with rare ADHD syndromes with highly penetrant risk genes. Routine diagnostic application of whole exome or whole genome sequencing combined with metabolomic screening, and brain imaging may be needed in cases with suspected neurometabolic disorders. Identification and treatment of ADHD patients with defined neurometabolic aberrations could be a first step toward genome guided personalized treatment of ADHD. Possibly, screening for relevant biomarkers may gradually be implemented to guide treatment choices in larger patient groups.

A plant-based dietary score and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Iranian children: A case-control study

ObjectiveAttention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder with a prevalence of 5 % among children and adolescents worldwide. Plant foods have a protective effect against inflammation and oxidative stress which both are involved in psychiatric disorders pathophysiology including ADHD. Accordingly, we investigated the association between plant-based diet (PDI) and ADHD. MethodsThis case-control study was conducted on 345children and adolescents 7–13 years old in Yazd, Iran. Subjects were categorized into the case (n = 113) and control groups (n = 232) based on matching age and sex. To diagnose ADHD, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSMIV-TR) was used. Food frequency questionnaire was used to measure food intake. The association of PDI with ADHD was examined by logistic regression. ResultsChildren in the highest quartile of PDI compared to the lowest quartile had a higher energy and macronutrient intake, calcium, zinc, iron, vitamin B12, B6, and folic acid. After adjusting for potential confounders, a significant decreasing trend in the odds of ADHD across increasing quartiles of the PDI (P-trend = 0.001) was observed. In addition, children in the fourth quartile of PDI had 68 % lower odds of ADHD than the first quartile. This association remained significant after further adjustment for BMI (OR: 0.32;95 % CI: 0.13–0.79; P for trend: 0.001). ConclusionWe found that PDI is associated with lower risk of ADHD in children. Cohort and clinical studies are necessary to approve our results.

Prevalence of high risk of ADHD among adult users of Instagram in Russian Federation

IntroductionThe problem of diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in adults in the Russian Federation remains very relevant. Unfortunately, very little time is devoted to the topic of adult ADHD in standard and advanced training programs. In connection with these problems, it is important to study the prevalence of ADHD in the Russian population.ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of an increased risk of adult ADHD on the example of Russian Instagram users.Methods In the professional blog of one of the authors of the article in Instagram (@gentlepsydoc), a link was posted to an anonymous survey conducted using Google docs, in which patients filled out the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) in the author’s translationResultsA total of 144 people took part in the screening, 87.5% of them were women, the average age of the participants was 35.5±12.3 years (from 20 to 56). An increased risk of ADHD according to the indicators of the ASRS scale was detected in 13.2 % of participants.ConclusionsAmong Instagram users, the prevalence of an increased risk of ADHD was higher than according to epidemiology data. This indicator could be influenced by a sample of patients, mainly consisting of subscribers of a professional blog of a psychiatrist, as well as the prevalence of women among the participants. In any case, these data speak in favor of the importance of diagnosing this condition in the Russian population, as well as including information about adult ADHD in training programs for mental health professionals.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Barriers and Facilitators to Teachers' Use of Behavioral Classroom Interventions.

Multi-tiered behavioral classroom interventions are particularly important for students with or at risk for ADHD or other externalizing behaviors. Teachers often use these interventions infrequently or not as designed, and little is known about the barriers and facilitators to their use, especially from the teachers’ perspective. Using an exploratory sequential approach, we first used semi-structured qualitative interviews to identify teacher-reported barriers and facilitators to using three Tier 1 and one Tier 2 behavioral classroom interventions with students with ADHD symptoms (Study 1). Then, we identified which barriers and facilitators were most frequently endorsed on a survey (Study 2). The types of barriers and facilitators that emerged from semi-structured interviews included teachers’ beliefs about behavioral classroom interventions (i.e., about their effectiveness or the consequences of using them) that motivated teachers or reduced their motivation to use them, as well as factors that interfered or assisted with execution in the moment. The most frequently endorsed barriers were being distracted or forgetting due to competing demands, and feeling “stressed, frustrated, or burned out;” frequently endorsed facilitators included having a strong student–teacher relationship and having built the habit of using the intervention. Together, these results identify specific, malleable factors that can be targeted when supporting teachers in using Tier 1 and Tier 2 behavioral classroom interventions for students with ADHD symptoms.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12310-022-09524-3.

0497 Associations between Sleep Problems and ADHD Symptoms in Early Childhood: A Longitudinal, Primary-Care Based Study

Abstract Introduction Sleep problems are common, impairing correlates of ADHD. These associations may emerge as early as toddlerhood, suggesting sleep-focused interventions in early development may improve ADHD-related outcomes. However, previous research has been limited by cross-sectional methodology and small, clinically-referred samples. Thus, relationships between sleep and ADHD symptoms over time and in non-clinical samples remain unknown. The current study evaluated concurrent and longitudinal relationships between sleep problems and ADHD symptoms in early childhood in a large, non-clinical sample. Methods Children were recruited from primary care clinics at an academic medical center and assessed at two time points: T1 (n=1806, mean age: 20 months) and T2 (n=646, mean age: 37 months). Sleep problems and ADHD symptoms were evaluated via the caregiver-reported Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Sleep and DSM-Oriented ADHD scales, respectively. At T2, caregivers also completed the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS), which includes inattention and hyperactive/impulsive subscales. Associations between sleep and ADHD were examined using Pearson correlations at each time point. Stability of and longitudinal relationships between sleep and ADHD symptoms were also examined. Results Greater sleep problems were correlated with elevated CBCL ADHD at T1 (r=.40, p&amp;lt;.001) and T2 (r=.49, p&amp;lt;.001). At T2, greater sleep problems were also related to increased ADHD-RS scores (r=.44, p&amp;lt;.001), with similar relationships for inattention (r=.41) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (r=.43). Sleep problems (r=.51, p&amp;lt;.001) and CBCL ADHD (r=.52, p&amp;lt;.001) were moderately stable over time. Using the CBCL, partial correlations indicated that T1 sleep was associated with T2 ADHD after controlling for T1 ADHD (r=.11, p&amp;lt;.01); T1 ADHD was associated with T2 sleep problems after controlling for T1 sleep problems (r=.17, p&amp;lt;.001). Conclusion Sleep disturbances and ADHD symptoms were bi-directionally associated in a non-clinical sample of young children recruited in primary care. Results are consistent with conceptualization of ADHD as a 24-hour disorder and suggest that incorporating behavioral sleep techniques into empirically-based ADHD treatments may improve clinical outcomes for young children displaying ADHD symptoms. Future research may focus on 1) optimizing identification of toddlers and preschoolers at risk for sleep problems and ADHD and 2) developing interventions that can be delivered in primary care settings. Support (If Any) P50HD093074 , K23MH108704

Longer screen time utilization is associated with the polygenic risk for Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder with mediation by brain white matter microstructure.

SummaryBackgroundAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been reported to be associated with longer screen time utilization (STU) at the behavioral level. However, whether there are shared neural links between ADHD symptoms and prolonged STU is not clear and has not been explored in a single large-scale dataset.MethodsLeveraging the genetics, neuroimaging and behavioral data of 11,000+ children aged 9–11 from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development cohort, this study investigates the associations between the polygenic risk and trait for ADHD, STU, and white matter microstructure through cross-sectionally and longitudinal analyses.FindingsChildren with higher polygenic risk scores for ADHD tend to have longer STU and more severe ADHD symptoms. Fractional anisotropy (FA) values in several white matter tracts are negatively correlated with both the ADHD polygenic risk score and STU, including the inferior frontal-striatal tract, inferior frontal-occipital fasciculus, superior longitudinal fasciculus and corpus callosum. Most of these tracts are linked to visual-related functions. Longitudinal analyses indicate a directional effect of white matter microstructure on the ADHD scale, and a bi-directional effect between the ADHD scale and STU. Furthermore, reduction of FA in several white matter tracts mediates the association between the ADHD polygenic risk score and STU.InterpretationThese findings shed new light on the shared neural overlaps between ADHD symptoms and prolonged STU, and provide evidence that the polygenic risk for ADHD is related, via white matter microstructure and the ADHD trait, to STU.FundingThis study was mainly supported by NSFC and National Key R&D Program of China.

P58. Impact of Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors on ADHD Diagnosis Among School Aged Children in the ABCD Study

Risk for ADHD is associated with both genetic and environmental factors, but the relative burden of these classes of risk remains uncertain. We sought to determine attributable risk estimates for known genetic and environmental risk factors in a large study of youth age 9-10.

Social gradients in ADHD by household income and maternal education exposure during early childhood: Findings from birth cohort studies across six countries.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine social gradients in ADHD during late childhood (age 9–11 years) using absolute and relative relationships with socioeconomic status exposure (household income, maternal education) during early childhood (<5 years) in seven cohorts from six industrialised countries (UK, Australia, Canada, The Netherlands, USA, Sweden).MethodsSecondary analyses were conducted for each birth cohort. Risk ratios, pooled risk estimates, and absolute inequality, measured by the Slope Index of Inequality (SII), were estimated to quantify social gradients in ADHD during late childhood by household income and maternal education measured during early childhood. Estimates were adjusted for child sex, mother age at birth, mother ethnicity, and multiple births.FindingsAll cohorts demonstrated social gradients by household income and maternal education in early childhood, except for maternal education in Quebec. Pooled risk estimates, relating to 44,925 children, yielded expected gradients (income: low 1.83(CI 1.38,2.41), middle 1.42(1.13,1.79), high (reference); maternal education: low 2.13(1.39,3.25), middle 1.42(1.13,1.79)). Estimates of absolute inequality using SII showed that the largest differences in ADHD prevalence between the highest and lowest levels of maternal education were observed in Australia (4% lower) and Sweden (3% lower); for household income, the largest differences were observed in Quebec (6% lower) and Canada (all provinces: 5% lower).ConclusionFindings indicate that children in families with high household income or maternal education are less likely to have ADHD at age 9–11. Absolute inequality, in combination with relative inequality, provides a more complete account of the socioeconomic status and ADHD relationship in different high-income countries. While the study design precludes causal inference, the linear relation between early childhood social circumstances and later ADHD suggests a potential role for policies that promote high levels of education, especially among women, and adequate levels of household income over children’s early years in reducing risk of later ADHD.

OP030: Parenting stress raising children with sex chromosome aneuploidies: First year of life results from the eXtraordinarY Babies study

OP030: Parenting stress raising children with sex chromosome aneuploidies: First year of life results from the eXtraordinarY Babies study