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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric disorder without validated objective markers. Oculomotor behavior and executive motor control could potentially be used to investigate attention disorders. The aim of this study was to explore an oculomotor and postural dual task in children with ADHD. Forty-two children were included in the study, gathering children with ADHD ( = 21) (mean 8.15 age ± years 0.36) and sex-, age-, and IQ-matched typically developing children (TD). Children performed two distinct fixation tasks in three different postural conditions. Eye movements and postural body sway were recorded simultaneously, using an eye tracker and a force platform. Results showed that children with ADHD had poor fixation capability and poor postural stability when compared to TD children. Both groups showed less postural control on the unstable platform and displayed more saccades during the fixation task. Surprisingly, in the dual unstable platform/fixation with distractor task, the instability of children with ADHD was similar to that observed in TD children. "Top-down" dys-regulation mediated by frontal-striatal dysfunction could be at the origin of both poor inhibitory oculomotor deficits and impaired body stability reported in children with ADHD. Finally, we could assume that the fact both groups of children focused their attention on a secondary task led to poor postural control. In the future it could be interesting to explore further this issue by developing new dual tasks in a more ecological situation in order to gain more insight on attentional processes in children with ADHD. HIGHLIGHTS - Children with ADHD showed poor fixation capability when compared to TD children. - "Top-down" dys-regulation mediated by frontal-striatal dysfunction could be at the origin of both poor inhibitory oculomotor deficits and impaired body stability reported in children with ADHD. - Both groups of children focused their attention on the visual fixation task leading to poor postural control. - In the future it could be interesting to develop new dual tasks in an ecological situation in order to gain more insight on attentional processes in children with ADHD.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2018.00067 | DOI Listing |
Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging
September 2025
Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, University of Geneva School of medicine, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
Background: Recent epidemiological evidence links early-life obesity and metabolic dysregulation to adult psychosis vulnerability, though a causal relationship remains unclear. Establishing causality in highly heritable psychotic disorders requires: 1) demonstrating that early-life metabolic factors mediate between genetic vulnerability and psychosis trajectory, 2) dissecting mechanisms leading to early-life obesity in genetically vulnerable individuals, and 3) clarifying downstream neurodevelopmental pathways linking early-life obesity to psychosis symptoms.
Methods: Here we investigated bidirectional pathways linking behavioral, BMI, and neurodevelopment trajectories in a unique longitudinal cohort of 184 individuals at high genetic risk for psychosis, due to 22q11.
J Psychiatr Res
September 2025
Genomics and Bioinformatics Group, Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Genetics Group, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, 15706, Spain; Fund
Methylphenidate (MPH) is the first-line treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a condition that disrupts daily functioning. Research indicates that individuals with ADHD often experience sensory processing impairments, regardless of co-occurring conditions. Given the growing interest in pharmacogenetics to personalise treatments and minimise side effects, this study aims to characterise the sensory profiles of in child and youth ADHD patients treated with MPH and investigate potential pharmacogenetic biomarkers that could be associated with treatment outcomes or sensory-related side effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSleep Med
September 2025
Regional Epilepsy Center, Operative Unit of Childhood and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Background: Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), yet few studies have combined objective and subjective measures. The objectives of this study were to evaluate sleep patterns and sleep hygiene in children with ADHD and ASD compared age-matched typically developing children, using both parent-reported questionnaires and actigraphy, to assess the concordance between these measures, and to determine the clinical applicability of actigraphy in this population.
Methods: Sixty children with NDD (30 ASD, 30 ADHD) and 40 typically developing controls, matched for age, underwent seven nights of actigraphic recording.
PLoS Med
September 2025
Perinatal Epidemiology Group, Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Newborn Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes for the child, though no recent comprehensive meta-analyses exist. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis examining the association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and child neurodevelopmental disabilities, intelligence, and educational outcomes.
Methods And Findings: A search was conducted of MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases from inception until 18 September 2024.
J Popul Ther Clin Pharmacol
September 2024
Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington DC 20059, USA.
Developmental Dyslexia (DD) and Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are neurodevelopmental disorders that often coexist and share complex genetic underpinnings. Our case study integrates psychological assessments and whole exome sequencing to explore the genetic basis of DD and ADHD co-occurrence in a single proband (a nine-year-old female born to healthy) from a consanguineous Pakistani family. We present a proband with symptoms of impulsivity, inattention, and severe hyperactive behavior, along with speech impairment and moderate learning disabilities.
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