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Perinatal Phosphatidylcholine Supplementation and Early Childhood Behavior Problems: Evidence for CHRNA7 Moderation.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:?7-Nicotinic receptors are involved in the final maturation of GABA inhibitory synapses before birth. Choline at levels found in the amniotic fluid is an agonist at ?7-nicotinic receptors. The authors conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled trial to assess whether high-dose oral phosphatidylcholine supplementation during pregnancy to increase maternal amniotic fluid choline levels would enhance fetal development of cerebral inhibition and, as a result, decrease childhood behavior problems associated with later mental illness. METHOD:The authors previously reported that newborns in the phosphatidylcholine treatment group have increased suppression of the cerebral evoked response to repeated auditory stimuli. In this follow-up, they report parental assessments of the children's behavior at 40 months of age, using the Child Behavior Checklist. RESULTS:At 40 months, parent ratings of children in the phosphatidylcholine group (N=23) indicated fewer attention problems and less social withdrawal compared with the placebo group (N=26). The improvement is comparable in magnitude to similar deficits at this age associated with later schizophrenia. The children's behavior is moderated by CHRNA7 variants associated with later mental illness and is related to their enhanced cerebral inhibition as newborns. CONCLUSIONS:CHRNA7, the ?7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene, has been associated with schizophrenia, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Maternal phosphatidylcholine treatment may, by increasing activation of the ?7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, alter the development of behavior problems in early childhood that can presage later mental illness.

SUBMITTER: Ross RG

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5892450 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Perinatal Phosphatidylcholine Supplementation and Early Childhood Behavior Problems: Evidence for CHRNA7 Moderation.

Ross Randal G RG Hunter Sharon K SK Hoffman M Camille MC McCarthy Lizbeth L Chambers Betsey M BM Law Amanda J AJ Leonard Sherry S Zerbe Gary O GO Freedman Robert R

The American journal of psychiatry 20151207 5

<h4>Objective</h4>α7-Nicotinic receptors are involved in the final maturation of GABA inhibitory synapses before birth. Choline at levels found in the amniotic fluid is an agonist at α7-nicotinic receptors. The authors conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled trial to assess whether high-dose oral phosphatidylcholine supplementation during pregnancy to increase maternal amniotic fluid choline levels would enhance fetal development of cerebral inhibition and, as a result, decrease childhood be ...[more]

PMID: 26651393

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Behavioural problems and psychopathology can present from as early as the preschool period. However there is evidence that behavioural difficulties may not be stable over this period. Therefore, the current study was interested in evaluating the persistence and change in clinically relevant behavioural problems during early childhood in a population-based New Zealand birth cohort. METHODS:Behaviour was assessed in 5896 children when they were aged 2 and 4.5?years using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Correlations and mean differences in subscale and total difficulties scores were examined. Scores were then dichotomised into normal/borderline and abnormal ranges to evaluate the persistence and change in significant behavioural problems. Chi-square analyses and ANOVAs were used to determine the association between sociodemographic and birth variables, and preschool behavioural stability. RESULTS:Raw scores at ages 2 and 4.5?years were moderately correlated, with most measures showing a small but significant decrease in mean scores over time. The majority of children who showed abnormal behaviour at 2?years improved at 4.5?years (57.9% for total difficulties). However, a notable proportion persisted in their difficulties from 2 to 4.5?years (42.1% for total difficulties). There was a small percentage of children who were categorised as abnormal only at 4.5?years. Children with difficulties at one or both time points had a greater proportion who were the result of an unplanned pregnancy, lived in highly deprived urban areas, and had mothers who were younger, of M?ori and Pacific ethnicity and were less educated. CONCLUSIONS:Not all children who show early behavioural difficulties persist in these difficulties. Those whose difficulties persist were more likely to experience risk factors for vulnerability relative to children with no difficulties. Results suggest that repeated screening for early childhood behavioural difficulties is important.

Dataset Information

Perinatal Phosphatidylcholine Supplementation and Early Childhood Behavior Problems: Evidence for CHRNA7 Moderation.

Publications

Perinatal Phosphatidylcholine Supplementation and Early Childhood Behavior Problems: Evidence for CHRNA7 Moderation.

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