ArticleBMJ open2024
Childhood neurodivergent traits, inflammation and chronic disabling fatigue in adolescence: a longitudinal case-control study.
Article in BMJ open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Predictors of Somatic Symptom Severity in Adult Psychiatric Outpatients: A Cross-sectional Heart Rate Variability and Quantitative Electroencephalography Study.Clinical psychopharmacology and neuroscience : the official scientific journal of the Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2026Article
- Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidence from Genetic, Biochemical, and Neuroimaging Approaches.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- ICD-10 Diagnoses prior to ME/CFS diagnosis in children and young people suggest potential early diagnostic indicators.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Functional iron blockade in chronic stress and neurodivergence: a perspective on adaptive stress physiology.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTo test whether inflammatory processes link the expression of childhood neurodivergent traits to chronic disabling fatigue in adolescence.
designLongitudinal case-control study.
settingWe analysed data from The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).
participants8115 and 8036 children of the ALSPAC cohort at ages 7 and 9 years, respectively, 4563 of whom also completed self-report measures at age 18 years. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: We assessed if children scoring above screening threshold for autism/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at ages 7 and 9 years had increased risk of chronic disabling fatigue at age 18 years, computing ORs and CIs for effects using binary logistic regression. Mediation analyses were conducted to test if an inflammatory marker (interleukin 6 (IL-6)) at age 9 years linked neurodivergent traits to chronic disabling fatigue at age 18 years.
resultsChildren with neurodivergent traits at ages 7 and 9 years were two times as likely to experience chronic disabling fatigue at age 18 years (likely ADHD OR=2.18 (95% CI=1.33 to 3.56); p=0.002; likely autism OR=1.78 (95% CI=1.17 to 2.72); p=0.004). Levels of IL-6 at age 9 were associated with chronic disabling fatigue at age 18 (OR=1.54 (95% CI=1.13 to 2.11); p=0.006). Inflammation at age 9 years mediated effects of neurodivergent traits on chronic disabling fatigue (indirect effect via IL-6: ADHD b=1.08 (95% CI=1.01 to 1.15); autism b=1.06; (95% CI=1.03 to 1.10)). All effects remained significant when controlling for the presence of depressive symptoms.
conclusionsOur results indicate higher risk of chronic disabling fatigue for children with neurodivergent traits, likely linked to higher levels of inflammation. The implementation of transdiagnostic screening criteria to inform support strategies to counteract risk early in life is recommended.
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