High Mobility Group Box 1 Protein as a Biomarker in Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is frequently underdiagnosed in adults.
• Inflammatory processes and immune dysregulation are increasingly linked to ADHD.
• High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) is implicated in various neuropsychiatric conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of inflammation in adult ADHD.
• To quantify HMGB1 serum levels in adult ADHD patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Enrolled 43 adult ADHD patients and 42 controls (ages 18-65).
• Excluded participants with specific medical conditions or on certain supplements/medications.
• Measured HMGB1 levels using Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA).

Main Results:

• HMGB1 serum levels were significantly elevated in the ADHD group compared to controls (p = 0.003).
• Sociodemographic characteristics between groups were comparable.

Conclusions:

• Elevated HMGB1 in adult ADHD supports a connection between chronic low-grade inflammation and ADHD.
• HMGB1 may play a role in the pathophysiology of ADHD.
• HMGB1's association with immune diseases suggests its potential relevance in ADHD.