Children with little attention are more likely to develop mental health conditions in adulthood

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Children with poor attention and poor memory are more likely to develop mental health conditions, including depression and psychosis in adulthood.

  • The experts studied data from a cohort of more than 13,000 people born in 1991 and 1992
  • They looked for links between cognitive problems in childhood and mental health
  • People with little attention at age eight developed depression from the age of 18 years
  • Knowing these markers during childhood could help address later mental health issues

By Ryan Morrison for Mailonline

Posted: | Updated:

The study shows that children who have memory problems and have little attention are more likely to develop mental health conditions as adults.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham analyzed data from a cohort of 13,988 people born in 1991 and 1992 and re-examined over decades.

They set out to look for any link between childhood cognitive problems, such as lack of control and memory problems, and the mental health conditions of later life.

They found that lack of attention in eight-year-olds could lead to depression at 18, and memory problems at ten could lead to hypomania at 22 years old.

Targeting specific markers in childhood for early treatment can help minimize the risk of developing certain psychopathological problems later in life. said the team.

The study shows that children who have memory problems and have little attention are more likely to develop mental health conditions as adults. Stock image

The study shows that children who have memory problems and have little attention are more likely to develop mental health conditions as adults. Stock image

WHAT IS ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral condition defined by lack of attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

It affects about five percent of children in the US. In the UK, 3.6% of boys and 0.85% of girls suffer.

Symptoms usually appear at an early age and become more noticeable as the child grows. These may also include:

  • Constant concern
  • Poor concentration
  • Excessive movement or speech
  • Act without thinking
  • Little or no sense of danger
  • Carefree mistakes
  • Oblit
  • Difficulties in organizing tasks
  • Inability to listen or carry out instructions

Most cases are diagnosed between the ages of six and 12. Adults can also suffer, but there is less research on this.

The exact cause of ADHD is unclear, but it is believed to involve genetic mutations that affect a person’s brain function and structure.

Premature babies and those with epilepsy or brain damage are at higher risk.

ADHD is also linked to anxiety, depression, insomnia, Tourette’s and epilepsy.

There is no cure.

A combination of medications and therapies is usually recommended to relieve symptoms and make day-to-day life easier.

Source: NHS options

This includes conditions such as borderline personality disorder, depression, and psychosis that can begin to show in people as young as 17 or 18 years old.

Cognitive deficits are basic features of mental disorders and are important in predicting long-term prognosis, according to lead author Dr. Isabel Morales-Munoz.

The work of this new study seems to show that individual patterns of these deficits, such as short attention spans, predate some mental health disorders.

Morales-Muñoz said, “Prevention strategies focused on alleviating these specific cognitive problems could help reduce the likelihood that these children will develop related mental health problems in adolescence and early adulthood.”

The study was the first to explore specific links between cognitive deficits in childhood and psychopathological problems in young people over a period of time.

The eight-year sustained care deficits associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms at 11-12 coincide with similar deficits in adult patients with BPD-related difficulties in adhering to therapy programs.

Previous evidence also suggests a significant link between adult BPD and symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

This indicates that ADHD could pose a risk factor for BPD, the team explained.

The study also supports the theory that lack of inhibition in childhood precedes subsequent psychotic experiences, with a common lack of inhibitory control in psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.

Mental disorders cause a significant burden of disease worldwide and at least 10% of children and adolescents worldwide have a mental disorder.

The team said 75% of mental disorders diagnosed in adults have their onset in childhood and adolescence.

Bipolar disorder, depression, and psychosis often occur during adolescence and continue into adulthood, potentially related to abnormalities in the way adolescents mature caused by psychosocial, biological, or environmental factors.

“It is crucial to study the onset of mental disorders in these early stages and to assess which risk factors precede these conditions,” said co-author Matthew Broome.

“These factors are basic traits of mental disorders such as psychosis and mood disorders,” he explained.

They set out to look for any link between childhood cognitive problems, such as lack of control and memory problems, and the mental health conditions of later life. Stock image

They set out to look for any link between childhood cognitive problems, such as lack of control and memory problems, and the mental health conditions of later life. Stock image

“Deficits in cognitive function, ranging from decreased attention and working memory to impaired social cognition and language, are common in psychiatric disorders,” added the lead author of the study, Professor Steven Marwaha.

“They seriously compromise quality of life and could precede severe mental health conditions for several years.”

The results have been published in the journal JAMA Network Open.

DEPRESSION AFFECTS ONE TEN PEOPLE AT SOME POINT

While it is normal to feel unwell from time to time, people with depression may feel persistently unhappy for weeks or months.

Depression can affect anyone at any age and is quite common: it is likely that one in ten people will experience it at some point in their lives.

Depression is a real health condition that people cannot ignore or “get out of.”

Symptoms and effects vary, but can include feeling constantly upset or desperate or losing interest in things you once enjoyed.

It can also cause physical symptoms such as trouble sleeping, fatigue, low appetite or sexual desire, and even physical pain.

In extreme cases it can lead to suicidal thoughts.

Traumatic events can trigger it and people with a family history may be more at risk.

It is important to consult a doctor if you think you or someone you know has depression, as it can be monitored with lifestyle changes, therapy, or medication.

Source: NHS Choices

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