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Adverse effects of heavy prenatal maternal smoking on attentional control in children with ADHD

Maria G Motlagh1, Denis G Sukhodolsky, Angeli Landeros-Weisenberger

  • 1Child Study Center Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-7920, USA. maria.motlagh@yale.edu

Journal of Attention Disorders
|July 10, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Heavy maternal smoking during pregnancy negatively impacts attentional control in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This effect was observed through slower reaction times and increased variability on cognitive tests.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Maternal smoking and psychosocial stress during pregnancy are linked to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) development.
  • Understanding perinatal risk factors is crucial for identifying early markers of ADHD-related neurodevelopmental issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between heavy maternal smoking and severe psychosocial stress during pregnancy and neuropsychological deficits in children with ADHD.
  • To determine if these perinatal factors correlate with specific cognitive and motor impairments characteristic of ADHD.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 81 children diagnosed with ADHD (ages 8-18) was assessed.
  • Neuropsychological evaluation included the Connors' Continuous Performance Test (CPT), Stroop Color-Word Interference Test, Beery Visual-Motor Integration Test, and Purdue Pegboard Test.
  • The study specifically examined attentional control, motor inhibition, visual-motor integration, and fine motor coordination.

Main Results:

  • Heavy maternal smoking during pregnancy was significantly associated with slower reaction times on the CPT (p < .002).
  • Increased reaction time variability on the CPT was also linked to heavy prenatal maternal smoking (p < .007).
  • No significant associations were reported for psychosocial stress in this analysis.

Conclusions:

  • Heavy prenatal exposure to maternal smoking has a lasting detrimental effect on attentional control in children with ADHD.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the neurobiological underpinnings of this association.
  • Investigating the interplay between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors like smoking is essential for a comprehensive understanding.
Abstract

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