B4511 - Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and risk of ADHD in offspring - 15/01/2024

B number: 
B4511
Principal applicant name: 
Evie Stergiakouli | MRC IEU
Co-applicants: 
Vandana Venkat, Panagiota Pagoni, Yaxin Luo
Title of project: 
Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and risk of ADHD in offspring
Proposal summary: 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a chronic neurodevelopmental condition, characterized by difficulties in behavioural and neurocognitive functioning. Many studies have suggested that some maternal factors during pregnancy are associated with ADHD in the offspring. However, the mechanisms and whether the associations are causal is still unclear. This project will be conducted to understand the impacts of maternal hypertensive disorders during pregnancy on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in offspring as little is known about this. As ADHD is becoming more prevalent, more research is needed to thoroughly understand factors that may increase risk of this disease. We will investigate the role of hypertension during pregnancy in ADHD using genetic, clinic and questionnaire data from the ALSPAC cohort.

Impact of research: 
This research will be particularly impactful as it helps understand significant associations between hypertensive disorders and the risk of ADHD in offspring as this disorder is currently on the rise. Additionally, it will help understand risk factors for ADHD to increase awareness of the disease.
Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 11 January, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 15 January, 2024
Keywords: 
Genetic epidemiology (including association studies and mendelian randomisation), Hypertension, Learning difficulty, Statistical methods, Birth outcomes, Blood pressure, Genetic epidemiology, Mendelian randomisation, Mothers - maternal age, menopause, obstetrics, Offspring