Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026
The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
Published on: June 12, 2020
Sociodemographic, Electrophysiological, and Biochemical Profiles in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Sameh A Abd El Naby1, Yahya M Naguib2
1Paediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt.
Insights
Gender and family history significantly influence attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and epilepsy. Altered serum ferritin and zinc levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurobehavioral disorder in children globally.
- Children with epilepsy often exhibit a higher prevalence of ADHD, suggesting a potential link between these conditions.
- The exact etiology of ADHD remains unidentified, necessitating further research into contributing factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the sociodemographic, clinical, electrophysiological, and biochemical profiles of children with ADHD, epilepsy, and comorbid ADHD with epilepsy.
- To identify potential moderators in the etiology of ADHD and epilepsy, including gender and family history.
- To explore the role of serum ferritin and zinc levels in the pathophysiology of ADHD and epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 100 children divided into four groups: control, ADHD, epilepsy, and ADHD with epilepsy (25 children per group).
- Sociodemographic data, clinical history, electroencephalogram (EEG) findings, and serum biochemical markers (ferritin, zinc, adenosine deaminase) were analyzed.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare parameters across the four groups.
Main Results:
- A higher male-to-female ratio was observed in the ADHD and ADHD with epilepsy groups.
- Positive family history was significantly associated with epilepsy and ADHD with epilepsy.
- Delayed speech development was noted in ADHD and ADHD with epilepsy groups. EEG abnormalities were more prevalent in ADHD with epilepsy. Significantly lower serum ferritin and higher serum zinc levels were found in children with ADHD and/or epilepsy compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Gender and family history are significant factors in the development of ADHD and epilepsy, as well as their comorbidity.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) can be a crucial tool for assessing children with ADHD and epilepsy.
- Alterations in serum ferritin and zinc levels may contribute to the pathophysiology of ADHD and epilepsy.
Abstract:
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is among the most prevalent neurobehavioral disorders affecting children worldwide. The prevalence of ADHD is higher in children with epilepsy. Despite the plethora of conducted work, the precise cause of ADHD is not identified yet. We studied here the sociodemographic, clinical, electrophysiological, and biochemical profiles of children with ADHD, epilepsy, and ADHD with epilepsy. Subjects were divided into 4 groups (25 child/group): I-control, II-ADHD, III-epilepsy, and IV-ADHD with epilepsy. Male to female ratio was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the ADHD (3.1) and ADHD with epilepsy (2.1) groups when compared to the control (1.08) or epilepsy (1.08) groups. Positive family history was significantly evident in patients with epilepsy and ADHD with epilepsy, but not in the control or ADHD groups. Speech development was significantly delayed in the ADHD and ADHD with epilepsy groups. EEG abnormalities were detected in patients with ADHD (12%) and ADHD with epilepsy (68%). Focal frontal activities were significantly detectable in the ADHD (100%) and ADHD with epilepsy (77.8%) groups, whereas focal temporal activity was significantly present in the epilepsy (83.3%) group. Serum ferritin was significantly lower in the ADHD group (110.27 ± 6.64 ηg/ml) when compared to the control (134.23 ± 14.82 ηg/ml), epilepsy (159.66 ± 33.17 ηg/ml), and ADHD with epilepsy (203.04 ± 50.64 ηg/ml) groups. Serum zinc was significantly higher in the ADHD, epilepsy, and ADHD with epilepsy groups (236.63 ± 20.89, 286.74 ± 43.84, and 229.95 ± 67.34 μg/dl, respectively), when compared to the control group (144.21 ± 17.40 μg/dl). Serum adenosine deaminase was insignificantly different among the groups. Our results indicate that gender and family history are significant moderators in the aetiology of ADHD and epilepsy or their comorbidity. We also demonstrated that EEG could be central in the assessment of ADHD with epilepsy cases. Serum ferritin and zinc alteration may contribute significantly in ADHD and epilepsy pathophysiology.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
02:18Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
01:24Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
02:24Ribosome Profiling
Applications of ribosome profiling
Ribosome profiling has many applications, including in vivo monitoring of translation inside a particular organ or tissue type and quantifying new protein synthesis levels.
The technique...
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...