Hypothyroidism in pregnant mothers linked to ADHD in their children


Date:
October 21, 2020
Source:
NYU Langone Health / NYU School of Medicine
Summary:
Low levels of key, body-regulating chemicals in mothers during
the first three months of pregnancy may interfere with the baby's
brain development, a large study shows.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
Low levels of key, body-regulating chemicals in mothers during the first
three months of pregnancy may interfere with the baby's brain development,
a large American study shows.


========================================================================== These chemicals, or hormones, are produced in the thyroid gland in
the neck and are known to influence fetal growth. Investigators have
suspected that disruptions in their production, or hypothyroidism, may contribute to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is
the most common neurodevelopmental disorder of children in the U.S.

Led by an NYU Long Island School of Medicine researcher, the new
investigation showed that children whose mothers were diagnosed with hypothyroidism shortly before or during the early stages of pregnancy
were 24 percent more likely to have ADHD than children whose mothers
did not have the diagnosis. The authors say their findings also show
that boys born to hypothyroid women were four times more vulnerable to
ADHD than girls whose mothers had hypothyroidism.

Hispanic children born to hypothyroid mothers had the highest risk of
any ethnic group studied.

"Our findings make clear that thyroid health likely has a much larger
role in fetal brain development and behavioral disorders like ADHD
than we previously understood," says study lead author Morgan Peltier,
PhD. Peltier is an associate professor in the departments of Clinical Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Medicine at NYU Winthrop
Hospital, part of NYU Langone Health.

Among the study findings were that once a pregnancy had reached the
second trimester, a woman's hypothyroidism had little effect on her
children. A possible explanation, says Peltier, is that by this point,
the fetus has begun to produce its own thyroid hormones and so is less vulnerable to its mother's deficiencies.

The new investigation, publishing Oct. 21 in the American Journal
of Perinatology, followed 329,157 children from birth until age 17,
all born in Kaiser Permanente Southern California hospitals. It is the
first large-scale effort in the U.S. to examine a potential link between a mother's hypothyroidism and ADHD in her children, according to the study's authors. The authors also note that unlike previous research in Europe,
the new American study included people of diverse ethnic backgrounds and observed the children for nearly two decades. This long study period,
lead author Peltier says, allowed the researchers to better capture
cases of ADHD in the children as they aged and progressed through school.

As part of the new research, the team analyzed children's medical records
and collected key information about their mothers, including age during pregnancy, race, and household income. All children were evaluated for
ADHD using the same criteria, which the authors say helped to prevent inconsistencies in how cases of the disorder were identified.

According to the findings, overall 16,696 children were diagnosed
with ADHD.

Hispanic children whose mothers had low thyroid hormone levels during
pregnancy had a 45 percent increased risk for the neurodevelopmental
disorder compared with a 22 percent increased risk in white children
whose mothers had the same condition.

Peltier says his team's results are strong enough to warrant careful
monitoring of pregnant women with low thyroid hormone levels. He adds
that children whose mothers had low thyroid hormone levels during
pregnancy could potentially benefit from earlier surveillance for signs
of ADHD, such as inattention, hyperactivity, and difficulty focusing
on a task. Previous research has found that swift intervention can help
manage ADHD and make it easier for children to succeed in the classroom
and in learning social skills.

The study team next plans to investigate whether hypothyroidism during pregnancy can raise the risk of other neurodevelopmental disorders,
such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and difficulties with speech. They
also intend to explore other factors that may increase the risk of ADHD
in children, such as exposure during pregnancy to environmental toxins
like flame retardants found in upholstered furniture, electronic devices,
and other household appliances.

Funding for the study was provided by Kaiser Permanente Southern
California and NYU Langone Health.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by NYU_Langone_Health_/_NYU_School_of_Medicine. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Morgan R. Peltier, Michael J. Fassett, Vicki Y. Chiu, Darios
Getahun.

Maternal Hypothyroidism Increases the Risk of Attention-Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder in the Offspring. American Journal of
Perinatology, 2020 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1717073 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201021085107.htm

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