The Role of the Gut-Brain Axis in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Author: Dam SA1, Mostert JC2, Szopinska-Tokov JW3, Bloemendaal M3, Amato M2, Arias-Vasquez A4
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Sarita.Dam@radboudumc.nl. <sup>2</sup>Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. <sup>3</sup>Department of Psychiatry, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. <sup>4</sup>Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Conference/Journal: Gastroenterol Clin North Am.
Date published: 2019 Sep
Other: Volume ID: 48 , Issue ID: 3 , Pages: 407-431 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.gtc.2019.05.001. Epub 2019 Jul 2. , Word Count: 119


Genetic and environmental factors play a role in the cause and development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Recent studies have suggested an important role of the gut-brain axis (GBA) and intestinal microbiota in modulating the risk of ADHD. Here, the authors provide a brief overview of the clinical and biological picture of ADHD and how the GBA could be involved in its cause. They discuss key biological mechanisms involved in the GBA and how these may increase the risk of developing ADHD. Understanding these mechanisms may help to characterize novel treatment options via identification of disease biomarkers.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS: ADHD; Biomarkers; Endocrine communication; Genetics; Gut-brain axis; Immunology; Metabolites; Nerval communication

PMID: 31383279 DOI: 10.1016/j.gtc.2019.05.001