CHILDHOOD attention issues, when combined with genetic predispositions, significantly increase the likelihood of experiencing psychotic-like experiences in adolescence, according to recent research.
Researchers analysed data from nearly 10,000 youths in the US, as part of the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, examining how attentional variability and genetic factors correlate with psychotic-like experiences. This large-scale study aimed to determine whether children with both attention difficulties and genetic risks are more vulnerable to developing symptoms associated with psychosis as they enter adolescence.
The study followed participants across three biennial visits, using polygenic scores (PGSs) derived from existing genetic datasets to assess each child’s genetic predisposition to conditions like schizophrenia and broader neurodevelopmental disorders. These scores, representing the cumulative effect of multiple genetic variants, were used to evaluate risk in both attention variability and psychotic-like symptoms. Researchers found that increased attentional variability was linked to more severe psychotic-like symptoms, with neuropsychiatric and cognitive PGSs explaining 4-16% of the association. In youths of European ancestry, these genetic scores correlated with psychotic-like symptom severity (R2 = 0.026–0.035) and attentional variability (R2 = 0.100–0.109). Notably, while the influence of broad neurodevelopmental PGSs on these symptoms diminished over time, the schizophrenia-specific PGS maintained its effect. By examining connections between genetic risk factors and attention, the study highlights how attentional variability serves as a mediator, linking genetic predispositions with early signs of psychosis.
The study’s findings offer valuable insights for clinical practice, particularly in early intervention for at-risk youth. Identifying children with attentional issues who also carry genetic risks could enable targeted approaches to mitigate the progression of psychotic-like symptoms. However, the study also emphasizes the limitations of current polygenic scores, which primarily reflect data from European populations, restricting their applicability to more diverse backgrounds. Expanding genetic research to include a broader range of ancestries will enhance the generalizability of these findings and help improve predictive accuracy. As researchers continue to follow the ABCD cohort, tracking long-term outcomes will be crucial in pinpointing specific factors that predict resilience or susceptibility to mental illnesses like schizophrenia. Future efforts to understand genetic and cognitive contributions to adolescent mental health may open avenues for preemptive interventions, potentially reducing the burden of severe psychiatric conditions in adulthood.
Reference
Change SE et al. Attention-mediated genetic influences on psychotic symptomatology in adolescence. Nat Mental Health. 2024;DOI:10.1038/s44220-024-00338-7.
