Childhood Attention Problems Linked to Increased Risk of Psychosis Later

New Delhi: A recent study suggests that children experiencing attention problems may be at a higher risk of developing psychotic-like experiences later in life. Psychosis, a mental health condition marked by a loss of connection with reality, can have its early indicators linked to childhood attention issues, according to the research published on Monday.

Conducted by researchers from the University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA), the study analyzed data from approximately 10,000 children over six years. The findings highlight that, aside from genetic factors, variability in attention span plays a significant role in the risk of psychotic-like symptoms as children transition into adolescence.

Children who exhibited a higher genetic predisposition to a range of neuropsychiatric and cognitive disorders were found to be at a greater risk of experiencing both severe psychotic-like symptoms and heightened attention difficulties. The study revealed that attention variability serves as an intermediary factor between genetic risk and the manifestation of psychotic-like symptoms, explaining about 4% to 16% of these associations.

Sarah Chang, a neuroscience graduate student at UCLA, noted, “If attention entirely accounted for the relationship between genetic predisposition and psychotic-like experiences, the percentage would be 100%.” This implies that while attention issues contribute to the risk, they do not solely determine it.

The study further points out that while the majority of children who have psychotic-like experiences do not develop schizophrenia, such episodes still increase the likelihood of future psychotic disorders and other mental health conditions. The findings could pave the way for identifying molecular targets that might serve as potential points of early intervention to prevent the progression of psychosis.

The researchers used polygenic scores, which combine the effects of multiple genetic variants to estimate an individual’s risk of developing neuropsychiatric conditions. However, they also acknowledged a limitation of their study: the polygenic scores were largely based on genetic data from individuals of European ancestry, which may not be generalizable to broader populations.

This study underscores the importance of monitoring attention issues in children, as early detection could be crucial in preventing more severe mental health outcomes. The link between genetic risk and attention span variability suggests that a focus on managing attentional problems during childhood could reduce the risk of psychosis and other neuropsychiatric disorders later in life.

Overall, these findings emphasize the need for comprehensive research across diverse populations to better understand the genetic and cognitive underpinnings of psychotic-like experiences. Early intervention strategies focusing on improving attention could play a significant role in reducing the future burden of mental illness.