scholarly journals Association between childhood infection, serum inflammatory markers and intelligence: findings from a population-based prospective birth cohort study

2017 ◽  
Vol 146 (2) ◽  
pp. 256-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. MACKINNON ◽  
S. ZAMMIT ◽  
G. LEWIS ◽  
P. B. JONES ◽  
G. M. KHANDAKER
Keyword(s):  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Inflammatory Markers ◽  
Intellectual Development ◽  
Inflammatory Marker ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Birth Cohort Study ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
High Infection ◽  
Prospective Birth Cohort

SUMMARYA link between infection, inflammation, neurodevelopment and adult illnesses has been proposed. The objective of this study was to examine the association between infection burden during childhood – a critical period of development for the immune and nervous systems – and subsequent systemic inflammatory markers and general intelligence. In the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a prospective birth cohort in England, we examined the association of exposure to infections during childhood, assessed at seven follow-ups between age 1·5 and 7·5 years, with subsequent: (1) serum interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at age 9; (2) intelligence quotient (IQ) at age 8. We also examined the relationship between inflammatory markers and IQ. Very high infection burden (90+ percentile) was associated with higher CRP levels, but this relationship was explained by body mass index (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1·19; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·95–1·50), maternal occupation (adjusted OR 1·23; 95% CI 0·98–1·55) and atopic disorders (adjusted OR 1·24; 95% CI 0·98–1·55). Higher CRP levels were associated with lower IQ; adjusted β = −0·79 (95% CI −1·31 to −0·27); P = 0·003. There was no strong evidence for an association between infection and IQ. The findings indicate that childhood infections do not have an independent, lasting effect on circulating inflammatory marker levels subsequently in childhood; however, elevated inflammatory markers may be harmful for intellectual development/function.

scholarly journals Childhood interleukin-6, C-reactive protein and atopic disorders as risk factors for hypomanic symptoms in young adulthood: a longitudinal birth cohort study

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Hayes ◽  
G. M. Khandaker ◽  
J. Anderson ◽  
D. Mackay ◽  
S. Zammit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Interleukin 6 ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Adjusted Odds Ratio ◽  
Inflammatory Marker ◽  
Birth Cohort Study ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Increased Risk

BackgroundThere are no existing longitudinal studies of inflammatory markers and atopic disorders in childhood and risk of hypomanic symptoms in adulthood. This study examined if childhood: (1) serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP); and (2) asthma and/or eczema are associated with features of hypomania in young adulthood.MethodParticipants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a prospective general population UK birth cohort, had non-fasting blood samples for IL-6 and CRP measurement at the age of 9 years (n = 4645), and parents answered a question about doctor-diagnosed atopic illness before the age of 10 years (n = 7809). These participants completed the Hypomania Checklist at age 22 years (n = 3361).ResultsAfter adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, socio-economic status, past psychological and behavioural problems, body mass index and maternal postnatal depression, participants in the top third of IL-6 values at 9 years, compared with the bottom third, had an increased risk of hypomanic symptoms by age 22 years [adjusted odds ratio 1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–2.85, p < 0.001]. Higher IL-6 levels in childhood were associated with adult hypomania features in a dose–response fashion. After further adjustment for depression at the age of 18 years this association remained (adjusted odds ratio 1.70, 95% CI 1.03–2.81, p = 0.038). There was no evidence of an association of hypomanic symptoms with CRP levels, asthma or eczema in childhood.ConclusionsHigher levels of systemic inflammatory marker IL-6 in childhood were associated with hypomanic symptoms in young adulthood, suggesting that inflammation may play a role in the pathophysiology of mania. Inflammatory pathways may be suitable targets for the prevention and intervention for bipolar disorder.

scholarly journals Undiagnosed coeliac disease at age seven: population based prospective birth cohort study

BMJ ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 328 (7435) ◽  
pp. 322-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Polly J Bingley ◽  
Alastair J Norcross ◽  
Robert J Lock ◽  
Andrew R Ness ◽  
Richard W Jones
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Coeliac Disease ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Birth Cohort Study ◽  
Prospective Birth Cohort ◽  
Prospective Birth Cohort Study

scholarly journals Effect of multiple risk behaviours in adolescence on educational attainment at age 16 years: a UK birth cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. e020182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Wright ◽  
Ruth Kipping ◽  
Matthew Hickman ◽  
Rona Campbell ◽  
Jon Heron
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Birth Cohort Study ◽  
Risk Behaviours ◽  
Additional Risk ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Multiple Risk

ObjectivesTo explore the association between adolescent multiple risk behaviours (MRBs) and educational attainment.DesignProspective population-based UK birth cohort study.SettingAvon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a UK birth cohort of children born in 1991–1992.ParticipantsData on some or all MRB measures were available for 5401 ALSPAC participants who attended a clinic at age 15 years and/or completed a detailed questionnaire at age 16 years. Multiple imputation was used to account for missing data.Primary outcome measuresCapped General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) score and odds of attaining five or more GCSE examinations at grades A*–C. Both outcome measures come from the National Pupil Database and were linked to the ALSPAC data.ResultsEngagement in MRB was strongly associated with poorer educational attainment. Each additional risk equated to −6.31 (95% CI −7.03 to −5.58, p<0.001) in capped GCSE score, equivalent to a one grade reduction or reduced odds of attaining five or more A*–C grades of 23% (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.81, p<0.001). The average cohort member engaged in 3.24 MRB and therefore have an associated reduction in GCSE score equivalent to three and a half grades in one examination, or reduced odds of attaining five or more A*–C grades of 75%.ConclusionEngagement in adolescent MRB is strongly associated with poorer educational attainment at 16 years. Preventing MRB could improve educational attainment and thereby directly and indirectly improve longer-term health.

scholarly journals Serum C-reactive protein in adolescence and risk of schizophrenia in adulthood: A prospective birth cohort study

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 253-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Metcalf ◽  
Peter B. Jones ◽  
Tanja Nordstrom ◽  
Markku Timonen ◽  
Pirjo Mäki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Birth Cohort Study ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Prospective Birth Cohort ◽  
Prospective Birth Cohort Study

scholarly journals Association between common early-childhood infection and subsequent depressive symptoms and psychotic experiences in adolescence: a population-based longitudinal birth cohort study

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Anna B. Chaplin ◽  
Peter B. Jones ◽  
Golam M. Khandaker
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Birth Cohort Study ◽  
Psychotic Experiences ◽  
Childhood Infections ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Childhood Infection ◽  
Very High

Abstract Background Childhood infections are associated with adult psychosis and depression, but studies of psychotic experiences (PEs) and depressive symptoms in childhood, adolescence, and early-adulthood are scarce. Previous studies have typically examined severe infections, but studies of common infections are also scarce. Methods Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort, we examined associations of the number of infections in childhood from age 1.5 to 7.5 years with depressive symptom scores at age 10, 13, 14, 17, 18, and 19 years, and with PEs at 12 and 18 years. We performed additional analysis using infection burden (‘low’ = 0–4 infections, ‘medium’ = 5–6, ‘high’ = 7–9, or ‘very high’ = 10–22 infections) as the exposure. Results The risk set comprised 11 786 individuals with childhood infection data. Number of childhood infections was associated with depressive symptoms from age 10 (adjusted beta = 0.14; standard error (s.e.) = 0.04; p = <0.01) to 17 years (adjusted beta = 0.17; s.e. = 0.08; p = 0.04), and with PEs at age 12 (suspected/definite PEs: adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.18; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.09–1.27). These effect sizes were larger when the exposure was defined as very high infection burden (depressive symptoms age 17: adjusted beta = 0.79; s.e. = 0.29; p = 0.01; suspected/definite PEs at age 12: adjusted OR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.25–2.05). Childhood infections were not associated with depressive/psychotic outcomes at age 18 or 19. Conclusions Common early-childhood infections are associated with depressive symptoms up to mid-adolescence and with PEs subsequently in childhood, but not with these outcomes in early-adulthood. These findings require replication including larger samples with outcomes in adulthood.

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