Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 7: Placental health during late pregnancy may influence a child’s risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new study.

Researchers, including those from the University of Iowa in the US, found that lower levels of placental growth factor (PIGF), an important biomarker of placental health, during the third trimester were associated with a higher risk of ADHD diagnosis in children.

The findings suggest that neurodevelopmental risks may begin during pregnancy and that the placenta could play an important role in shaping a child’s developmental outcomes.

Researchers said pregnancy and maternal health indicators such as PIGF may provide insights into how a baby’s brain develops before birth.

The placenta supplies blood and nutrients to the developing baby, removes waste and provides protection against certain toxins as well as viral and bacterial exposures.

PIGF is a protein produced by the placenta and is considered a marker of placental health. Low levels are already known to be associated with pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia.

For the study, researchers analysed maternal blood samples from 176 pregnancies stored in the Perinatal Family Tissue Bank of the University of Iowa’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The researchers examined whether PIGF levels during pregnancy were associated with the risk of ADHD diagnosis in children years later. The findings were published in JAMA Psychiatry.