Association between obesity‐related gene FTO and ADHD. (13th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Choudhry, Zia; Sengupta, Sarojini M.; Grizenko, Natalie; Thakur, Geeta A.; Fortier, Marie‐Eve; Schmitz, Norbert; Joober, Ridha
• Is Part Of: Obesity. Volume 21:Number 12(2013:Dec.)
• Page Start: E738
• Page End: E744
• Publication Date: 2013-06-13
• Subjects: Obesity -- Periodicals; 616.398005
• DOI: 10.1002/oby.20444
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1930-7381

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="oby20444-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an etiologically complex heterogeneous behavioral disorder. Several studies have reported that ADHD subjects are more likely to be overweight/obese and that this comorbidity may be due to shared genetic factors. The objective of this study is to explore the association between ADHD and <italic>FTO</italic>, a gene strongly associated with obesity in genome‐wide studies.</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20444-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design and Methods</title> <p>One tag SNP (single‐nucleotide polymorphism, <italic>rs8050136</italic>, risk allele A) in the <italic>FTO</italic> gene was selected and its association with ADHD was tested. Family‐based association tests (FBATs) were conducted with the categorical diagnosis of ADHD as well as behavioral and cognitive phenotypes related to ADHD. Furthermore, stratified FBAT analyses based on maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSDP) status were conducted.</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20444-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Statistically significant associations were observed between <italic>rs8050136</italic> and several of the traits tested in the total sample. These associations were stronger when the analysis was restricted to children who were not exposed to MSDP.</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20444-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>These exploratory results suggest the involvement of the <italic>FTO</italic> SNP <italic>rs8050136</italic> in modulating the risk for ADHD, particularly in those children who were not exposed to MSDP. If confirmed, they may explain, at least in part, the complex links between obesity and ADHD.</p> </sec> </abstract>