Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42106613›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurodevelopmental disorders2026

Decreased attention in 10- and 14-month-olds with neurofibromatosis type 1 and association with later ADHD traits.

Tessel Bazelmans, Francesca Penza, Jannath Begum-Ali, Chloe Taylor, Mark H Johnson, Tony Charman, Jonathan Green, Shruti Garg, Emily J H Jones, STAARS and EDEN Teams

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurodevelopmental disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Tessel Bazelmans *Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK. tessel.bazelmans@bbk.ac.uk.
Francesca Penza *Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK.
Jannath Begum-AliCentre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK.
Chloe TaylorCentre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK.
Mark H JohnsonDepartment of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Tony CharmanDepartment of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Jonathan GreenDivision of Psychology & Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Shruti GargDivision of Psychology & Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Emily J H JonesCentre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK.
STAARS and EDEN Teams

Funding

Bailey Thomas Charitable Fund GN2385Innovative Medicines Initiative 777394Manchester Biomedical Research Centre NIHR203308Medical Research Council MR/R011427/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/T003057/1Medical Research Council MR/X010716/1MQ: Transforming Mental Health MQ14PP_83Rosetrees Trust A2213UK Research and Innovation EP/Z000319/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIdentifying precursors to ADHD, which affects up to 5% of children, is crucial for early identification and support. To this end, we used a prospective sample to investigate endogenous attention and activity level in infants with and without an elevated likelihood (EL) for ADHD and investigated associations with ADHD traits at 3-years. EL status was based on a family history of autism and/or ADHD or a diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a genetic condition associated with higher rates of ADHD.

methodsInfants (n = 26 typical likelihood (TL), n = 70 EL-autism, n = 28 EL-ADHD, n = 18 EL-autism + ADHD, and n = 29 NF1) participated in a live puppet task at 10 and/or 14 months. Mixed-effect models compared groups on behaviourally coded Focused Attention and Vigilance (i.e. Sustained Attention) and Movement, which was measured concurrently using an accelerometer to capture activity during these distinct attention states. Finally, we examined the bivariate associations of Attention and Movement, and their interaction, with 3-year parent-reported ADHD traits.

resultsInfants with NF1 exhibited less Focused Attention and Vigilance than EL-ADHD [t (1,170) = 3.53, p = .005] or EL-autism [t (1,170) = 5.43, p < .001] infants and this did not differ across age. There were no Attention differences between the EL and TL groups and no Group or age differences in Movement, however Movement did vary by Attention type: [Formula: see text](2) = 215.25, p < .001 (Focused Attention < Vigilance < Looking elsewhere). Across the cohort, less Focused Attention at 10 months (rs = -.27, p = .008) was associated with more ADHD traits at 3-years. During Vigilance at 14 months, there was a significant Attention-by-Movement interaction effect (z = 25.65, p < .001), showing that the association between more Vigilance and fewer ADHD traits was most pronounced in infants showing less Movement.

conclusionsReduced attention was observed from 10 months onwards in those with NF1, but not in those with a familial likelihood of ADHD. Moreover, early focused attention and the ability to modulate activity level by attentive state (i.e. more vigilant, less movement) may be important emerging features associated with later ADHD traits. We consider implications for early detection and early support strategies.

Indexed as

AttentionAttention Deficit Disorder with HyperactivityNeurofibromatosis 1Child, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantMaleProspective StudiesADHDFocused attentionInfantsMovementNeurodevelopmental conditionsNeurofibromatosisSustained attentionVigilance

Identifiers

PMID42106613
PMCPMC13330184

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LicenceCC BY
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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.