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Early-life gut microbiota and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in preadolescents
Andrea E Cassidy-Bushrow1,2, Alexandra R Sitarik3, Christine Cole Johnson3,4
1Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA. acassid1@hfhs.org.
Insights
Early life gut bacteria and fungi composition in infants are linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) development by age 10. This longitudinal study provides new insights into the gut microbiome
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Pediatric health
Background:
- Gut microbiota development parallels nervous system maturation.
- Existing research suggests differences in gut microbiota between individuals with and without ADHD.
- The WHEALS birth cohort study investigates early life factors and ADHD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that infant gut microbiota composition predicts later ADHD development.
- To examine the longitudinal association between infant gut microbiome and ADHD.
- To investigate both bacterial and fungal components of the infant gut microbiota.
Main Methods:
- 16S rRNA and ITS2 sequencing were used to profile gut microbiota in infant stool samples at 1 and 6 months of age.
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was diagnosed at age 10 based on parent reports or medical records.
- Statistical analyses, including covariate adjustment, were performed to assess associations.
Main Results:
- Infant gut microbial diversity and composition at 6 months were significantly associated with ADHD development.
- Specific bacterial Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) at 1 and 6 months, including Lactobacillales at 6 months, were linked to ADHD.
- Novel findings indicate an association between infant fungal OTUs and later ADHD diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Infant gut microbiota composition is longitudinally associated with ADHD development in pre-adolescence.
- Both bacterial and fungal gut microbiomes in early life show potential links to ADHD.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore underlying mechanisms.
Background:
Gut microbiota maturation coincides with nervous system development. Cross-sectional data suggest gut microbiota of individuals with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) differs. We hypothesized that infant gut microbiota composition is associated with later ADHD development in our on-going birth cohort study, WHEALS.
Methods:
Gut microbiota was profiled using 16S ribosomal RNA and the internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2) sequencing in stool samples from 1 month and 6 months of age. ADHD was defined by parent-reported or medical record doctor diagnosis at age 10.
Results:
A total of 314 children had gut microbiota and ADHD data; 59 (18.8%) had ADHD. After covariate adjustment, bacterial phylogenetic diversity (p = 0.017) and bacterial composition (unweighted UniFrac p = 0.006, R2 = 0.9%) at age 6 months were associated with development of ADHD. At 1 month of age, 18 bacterial and 3 fungal OTUs were associated with ADHD development. At 6 months of age, 51 bacterial OTUs were associated with ADHD; 14 of the order Lactobacillales. Three fungal OTUs at 6 months of age were associated with ADHD development.
Conclusions:
Infant gut microbiota is associated with ADHD development in pre-adolescents. Further studies replicating these findings and evaluating potential mechanisms of the association are needed.
Impact:
Cross-sectional studies suggest that the gut microbiota of individuals with and without ADHD differs. We found evidence that the bacterial gut microbiota of infants at 1 month and 6 months of age is associated with ADHD at age 10 years. We also found novel evidence that the fungal gut microbiota in infancy (ages 1 month and 6 months) is associated with ADHD at age 10 years. This study addresses a gap in the literature in providing longitudinal evidence for an association of the infant gut microbiota with later ADHD development.
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