Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Early environmental predictors for attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder and their co-occurrence Polyvios ChristofiNational and Kapodistrian University of Athens Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are prevalent, lifelong neurodevelopmental disorders associated with significant behavioural, academic, emotional, and adaptive challenges.These conditions are more common in males, exhibit high heritability, and have a complex aetiology.Furthermore, they frequently co-occur with estimates of 30-50% of individuals with ASD having ADHD symptoms, and two-thirds of individuals with ADHD having ASD symptoms.This suggests shared developmental pathways and risk factors that have not been adequately explored as most research addresses these conditions separately.Lebeña and colleagues (2024) aimed to identify preand perinatal risk factors and, for the first time, consider early environmental psychosocial exposures associated with ADHD, ASD, and their co-occurrence.Data were collected from the ABIS-study (All Babies in Southeast Sweden) cohort, which included 16,365 children born between 1997 and 1999, with a 22-year follow-up period.Diagnoses were obtained from the Swedish National Diagnosis Register.The study found cumulative incidences of 4.6% for ADHD, 1.7% for ASD and 1.1% for their co-occurrence.Being male was a significant predictor for all three outcomes with a male-tofemale ratio of 2:1 for both ADHD and ASD, compared to 3:1 reported in previous studies.ADHD showed significant associations with a family history of autoimmune diseases, preterm birth, lower birth weight, younger parental age, low-parental education, single-parent households, low-household income, maternal smoking and tobacco exposure at one year of age.There were significant associations with serious life events during pregnancy, and shorter breastfeeding duration compared to both control and ASD groups.Statistically independent ADHD predictors were being male, lower household income, lower maternal education, younger mother, maternal smoking, serious life events during pregnancy, lower paternal education and short breastfeeding duration.ASD was associated with maternal disease, infections during pregnancy, vaginal delivery compared to caesarean section, maternal age over 36 years, low-maternal education and low-household
DOI: 10.1111/camh.12739
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,350
OpenAlex ID: W4403779882