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Acetylcholinesterase activity and neurodevelopment in boys and girls

Jose R Suarez-Lopez1, John H Himes, David R Jacobs

  • 1Division of Global Health, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr M/C 0725, La Jolla, CA 92093-0725. jrsuarez@ucsd.edu.

Pediatrics
|November 20, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Low acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in Ecuadorian children was linked to poorer neurodevelopment, especially in boys. This highlights risks from organophosphate pesticide exposure on cognitive skills and academic performance.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure is a potential risk factor for neurodevelopmental deficits in children.
  • Neurotoxicity from acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition by OPs may disproportionately affect boys.
  • This study investigated the association between AChE activity and neurodevelopment in children from Ecuadorian floricultural communities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the hypothesis that lower AChE activity is associated with impaired neurobehavioral development in children.
  • To examine sex-specific differences in the association between AChE activity and neurodevelopment.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 307 children (ages 4-9 years) in Ecuador.
  • Quantification of blood AChE activity and assessment of neurodevelopment across five domains using the NEPSY-II test.
  • Statistical adjustments for demographic, socioeconomic, nutritional, and cohabitation factors.

Main Results:

  • Mean AChE activity was similar between genders.
  • In boys, lower AChE activity was significantly associated with increased odds of deficits in overall neurodevelopment, attention/executive functioning, and memory/learning.
  • Attention, inhibition, and long-term memory subtests were most affected in boys with low AChE activity.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced AChE activity is a potential biomarker for neurodevelopmental deficits in children, particularly affecting attention and memory in boys.
  • These findings underscore the importance of minimizing occupational pesticide exposure in communities with children.
  • Further research and protective measures are warranted to mitigate the impact of pesticide exposure on child neurodevelopment.
Abstract

Keywords:
AChEADDADHDEcuadoracetylcholinesteraseagricultural communitiesagricultureattentionboyschildrenfloricultureflowergirlsgrowthinhibitioninhibitory controlmemoryneurobehavioral developmentneurodevelopmentpesticideplantation

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