Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39929907›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Simple Executive Function as an endophenotype of autism-ADHD, and differing associations between simple versus complex Executive Functions and autism/ADHD traits.

Alexandra Hendry, Rachael Bedford, Mary Agyapong, Jannath Begum Ali, Tessel Bazelmans, Mutluhan Ersoy, Amy Goodwin, Luke Mason, Nisha Narvekar, Greg Pasco and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Alexandra HendryDepartment of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. alexandra.hendry@psy.ox.ac.uk.
Rachael BedfordCentre for Brain and Behaviour, Department of Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Mary AgyapongPsychology Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Jannath Begum AliCentre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, UK.
Tessel BazelmansCentre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, UK.
Mutluhan ErsoyDepartment of Psychology, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu, Turkey.
Amy GoodwinDepartment of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK.
Luke MasonDepartment of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK.
Nisha NarvekarPsychology Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Greg PascoPsychology Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Mark H JohnsonDepartment of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Emily J H JonesCentre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, UK.
Tony CharmanPsychology Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
STAARS Team

Funding

Medical Research CouncilMedical Research Council MR/K021389/1Medical Research Council MR/T003057/1NIHR Advanced Fellowship NIHR300880
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Autism and ADHD are associated with difficulties with Executive Functions (EFs), but the prevalence and nature of these difficulties in early development is not well understood. In this longitudinal study, 107 children with a family history of autism and/or ADHD (FH-autism/ADHD), and 24 children with No-FH-autism/ADHD completed multiple EF tasks (5 at age 2 years, 7 at age 3 years). Parents reported on their child's autism- (Q-CHAT at age 2, SRS-2 at age 3), and ADHD-related traits (CBCL DSM-ADHD scale, both ages). Compared to the No-FH-autism/ADHD group, the FH-autism/ADHD group showed lower scores on simple EFs (involving response inhibition, and holding in mind) at ages 2 and 3. Exploratory analysis linked FH-autism specifically with lower Executive Attention (top-down attentional control) at age 2, and the combination of FH-autism and FH-ADHD with lower Complex EF (involving selectively deploying responses, or updating information) at age 3. Three-year-olds' Simple EF scores were negatively associated with ADHD-related traits. Complex EF scores were negatively associated with autism traits (before correcting for multiple comparisons). Toddlers with a family history of autism and/or ADHD may benefit from interventions to support simple EF development, whilst those already showing autistic traits may benefit from support with more-complex EF skills.

Indexed as

Attention Deficit Disorder with HyperactivityAutistic DisorderEndophenotypesExecutive FunctionAttentionChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleADHDAutismEndophenotypeExecutive FunctionPreschoolToddler

Identifiers

PMID39929907
PMCPMC11811128

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.