Is Paternal Smoking at Conception a Risk for ADHD? A Controlled Study in Youth With and Without ADHD

Abstract

While preliminary, findings suggest that paternal smoking at conception may be a risk factor for ADHD in the offspring.

Nicotine exposure of male mice produces behavioral impairment in multiple generations of descendants

“…In the present study, which used nicotine exposure rather than cigarette smoke exposure, the nicotine-exposed founder males (fathers) did not display hyperactivity, attention deficit, or working memory deficit ( S2 Fig and S5 Data ), suggesting that the behavioral phenotypes in the offspring occurred in the absence of similar phenotypes in their fathers. In other words, the present study offers evidence that the behavioral phenotypes in the offspring can emerge in the absence of similar phenotypes in the fathers, addressing a drawback associated with interpretation of data from the previous human [ 10 ] and mouse [ 11 ] studies. Moreover, the present study used relatively low levels of nicotine exposure compared to previous studies in mice [ 11 , 58 ].…”

“…The present study directly addresses some of the drawbacks associated with human studies on the effects of paternal nicotine exposure on the offspring. For example, in our earlier study on this topic [ 10 ], some of the fathers who smoked cigarettes also had ADHD, making it difficult to separate the independent effects of paternal smoking from paternal ADHD on the offspring. In another study on the effects of paternal nicotine exposure on behavioral phenotypes in the offspring [ 11 ], the nicotine-exposed male mice (founder generation) displayed significant behavioral changes, some of which were also seen in their offspring.…”

“…Whereas maternal nicotine use is an undeniable concern, in reality more men smoke cigarettes than women [ 6 , 7 ]. Studies in human subjects suggest that paternal cigarette smoking adversely impacts attentional control [ 8 ] and increases the risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the offspring [ 9 , 10 ]. However, human studies cannot fully separate the effects of paternal smoking from those of genetic and environmental factors [ 8 , 9 ].…”

“…However, human studies cannot fully separate the effects of paternal smoking from those of genetic and environmental factors [ 8 , 9 ]. For example, ADHD and nicotine addiction are often comorbid, and ADHD tends to run in families, making it difficult to separate the role of paternal ADHD from paternal smoking on behavioral changes observed in the offspring [ 8 , 10 ]. Therefore, experimental animal models are valuable tools to address the specific role of paternal nicotine exposure [ 11 ].…”

Assessment of Biometal Profile in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or with Other Psychiatric Diagnoses: A Comparative Outpatient Study

“…Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders that affects 8-12% of children worldwide [1,2]. ADHD is characterized by consistent and age-inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity and/ or hyperactivity [3].…”