iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
A recent study suggests that children, particularly girls, born to mothers who used acetaminophen (paracetamol) during pregnancy may face a higher risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by age 10.
Published in Nature Mental Health, the research found that children whose mothers had biomarkers of acetaminophen in their plasma were 3.15 times more likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis.
The link was found to be stronger in females than in males. Girls exposed to acetaminophen during pregnancy were 6.16 times more likely to develop ADHD, while the association in boys was weaker and not statistically significant.
Acetaminophen is commonly used during pregnancy, with an estimated 70% of pregnant individuals in the US, Europe, and Asia using it. While the medication is generally considered low-risk by regulatory bodies such as the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency, increasing evidence suggests it may contribute to neurodevelopmental issues like ADHD and autism spectrum disorder.
For this study, researchers from the University of Washington analyzed plasma biomarkers of acetaminophen exposure in 307 African American mother-child pairs. They found that the presence of acetaminophen biomarkers in maternal blood samples taken during the second trimester was linked to a higher likelihood of an ADHD diagnosis in the child by ages 8-10. Specifically, acetaminophen metabolites were detected in 20.2% of the maternal plasma samples.
Gene expression analysis of a subset of 174 participants revealed sex-specific changes in the placenta. In females, acetaminophen exposure was associated with increased expression of immune-related genes, particularly the immunoglobulin heavy constant gamma 1 (IGHG1) gene.
Elevated levels of IGHG1 were statistically linked to ADHD diagnoses. Mediation analysis suggested that the gene’s placental expression played a role in acetaminophen’s effect on the development of ADHD.
These findings align with previous epidemiological studies and animal research, which have connected prenatal acetaminophen exposure to neurodevelopmental disruptions. The study stands out by using objective biomarker measurements rather than relying on self-reported data, addressing potential bias in earlier research. However, the researchers call for further studies to explore these findings.
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