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Polygenic risk associations with developmental and mental health outcomes in childhood and adolescence: A systematic

L B Moyakhe1, S Dalvie1,2, M S Mufford1,3,4

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa; and UCT Neuroscience Institute.

Medrxiv : the Preprint Server for Health Sciences
|April 10, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Polygenic risk scores (PRS) are linked to adverse neurodevelopmental and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents. These genetic associations appear across various conditions, not limited to specific disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Genetics
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

  • Childhood neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders pose a global concern with complex, multifactorial, and polygenic origins.
  • Polygenic risk scores (PRS) are increasingly utilized in psychiatric research to assess genetic liability for disorders.
  • Limited research has explored polygenic associations with developmental and mental health in pediatric populations.

Approach:

  • A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, searching databases for relevant studies.
  • The search encompassed full-text articles investigating polygenic risk associations with childhood/adolescent neurodevelopmental and mental health outcomes.
  • Studies were included if they examined polygenic risk scores in relation to these pediatric outcomes.

Key Points:

  • Fourteen studies were included, examining associations between PRS and adverse outcomes.
  • Higher PRS for ADHD, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia were linked to negative outcomes in youth.
  • Several studies indicated shared polygenic contributions across different neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders.

Conclusions:

  • PRS for neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders may be associated with adverse outcomes in children and adolescents.
  • These genetic associations appear to transcend specific diagnostic categories, suggesting shared genetic underpinnings.
  • The findings highlight the potential role of polygenic risk in understanding the etiology of pediatric mental health conditions.
Abstract

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