Steroid Injections During Pregnancy Can Up ADHD Risk

Mothers who are about to give birth to premature babies are given an infusion of glucocorticoids, which helps with lung development in the babies. However, a new study has found that this drug can increase the risk of mental disorders, including ADHD, in the children.

ADHD or Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder is characterized by the inability of paying attention, controlling behavior and being overtly active. The condition is rapidly increasing in the U.S., with one out of every ten children showing symptoms of ADHD. The condition can't be cured but can be successfully controlled.

The study was conducted by researchers at Imperial College London and the University of Oulu, Finland.

In the later stages of fetal development, the mother's body uses cortisol to fuel lung development. Synthetic glucocorticoids mimic the effects of cortisol and are therefore prescribed for mothers who are about to give birth to premature babies to hasten lung development. Poor growth of lungs can lead to serious health complications later in life.

The study was based on data from over 200 children, 37 of whom received synthetic glucocorticoids before birth. Another research based on a group of more than 6,000 children was also used to confirm the study findings.

Researchers found that children exposed to the drug at an early age were more likely to have poor scores on general mental health and had higher risks of suffering from ADHD.

Previous research has shown that stress during pregnancy can increase mental health risk in children. Cortisol is produced in the body as a primary response to stress.

"There are a lot of studies that have found links between stress in pregnancy and effects on children's mental health, especially ADHD, and this might be related to cortisol," said Alina Rodriguez, the senior author of the study, said in a news release."Synthetic glucocorticoids mimic the biological reaction when the mother is stressed, so we wanted to see if babies who were exposed to this treatment are affected similarly in terms of mental health outcomes."

The study is published in the journal PLOS One.                                                   

Preterm babies are at higher risk of learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, problems associated with breathing, vision and hearing loss and digestive problems, according to the National Institutes of Health.