SUMMARY: Children with persistent inflammation are at higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders, such as psychosis and depression, in early adulthood. A study found that elevated inflammatory markers, especially around age 9, significantly increase the risk of these disorders and cardiometabolic diseases, such as insulin resistance. This study suggests that early life inflammation may be an important contributing factor to later mental and physical health problems and indicates that its role needs to be further investigated.
Key Facts
Persistent inflammation during childhood increases the risk of psychosis and depression. Inflammation at age 9 is associated with increased risk of psychiatric disorders at age 24. Study suggests early intervention and potential new treatment targets.
Source: University of Birmingham
Children who suffer from persistent inflammation are at higher risk of experiencing serious mental illnesses, including psychosis and depression, in early adulthood, according to a study published today in JAMA Psychiatry.
The University of Birmingham-led study also found that people who experienced inflammation early in life were at higher risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases, including insulin resistance, an early stage of diabetes.
The study used data collected by the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), also known as the “Kids of the ’90s,” with a total of 6,556 participants, 50.4% of whom were women. Inflammation was identified by elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a common inflammatory marker, recorded at participants’ ages 9, 15, and 17.
The researchers found that of the two groups identified as having persistently elevated inflammation throughout development, the group whose CRP levels peaked early in childhood, around age 9, was most associated with a higher risk of later developing depression and psychosis at age 24.
“There is growing evidence linking inflammation with psychiatric illness, depression and cardiometabolic disorders, but little research has been done to explore different trajectories of inflammation in childhood and their associations with mental and physical health outcomes in early adulthood,” said Edward Palmer from the University of Birmingham, lead author of the study.
“Longitudinal evidence shows that early life inflammation is a significant risk factor for developing schizophrenia, depression and insulin resistance later in life. Those with inflammation, which peaked around age 9, were four to five times more likely to develop these diseases than those without inflammation.”
The results of this study provide strong evidence needed to spur further research into whether inflammation is a cause of these diseases or simply a marker.
Edward Palmer added: “While it is not yet proven that increased inflammation causes these diseases, it is clear that inflammation precedes the onset of psychiatric disorders and their possible associated metabolic dysfunction, so further research into the mechanisms that drive inflammation is warranted. This could ultimately lead to earlier life risk profiling, different types of early intervention, and potentially new therapeutic targets.”
About this Neurodevelopment and Mental Health Research News
Author: Tony Moran
Source: University of Birmingham
Contact: Tony Moran – University of Birmingham
Image: This image is provided by Neuroscience News
Original research: Open Access.
“Trajectories of inflammation in youth and risk of psychiatric and cardiometabolic disease in adulthood,” by Edward Palmer et al., JAMA Psychiatry
Abstract
Youth inflammation trajectories and risk of psychiatric and cardiometabolic disease in adulthood
Importance
Research suggests that low-grade, non-resolving inflammation may precede mental and physical illnesses in adults, although evidence to date has been largely cross-sectional or focused on the outcomes of a single disease.
the purpose
To investigate trajectories of inflammation, as measured by C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, in a large child and adolescent sample and to explore associations between the different trajectories identified and mental and related cardiometabolic health outcomes in early adulthood.
Design, Setup, and Participants
A longitudinal cohort study using data from the large UK-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) used latent class growth analysis (LCGA) to explore different trajectories of inflammation and logistic regression to explore associations with mental and physical health outcomes. Participants with measurable CRP data and relevant mental and cardiometabolic health outcomes were included in the analysis. Data analysis was conducted from May 1, 2023 to March 30, 2024.
Exposure
Inflammation was assessed by CRP levels at ages 9, 15, and 17. LCGA was used to identify different trajectories of inflammation.
Main Results and Evaluation
Outcomes assessed at age 24 years included psychiatric disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, hypomania, and the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA2) score as a measure of insulin resistance.
result
A total of 6556 participants, including 3303 women (50.4%), were included. Three classes of inflammation were identified: persistently low CRP levels (reference class, n = 6109), persistently elevated CRP levels peaking at age 9 years (early peak, n = 197), and persistently elevated CRP levels peaking at age 17 years (late peak, n = 250). Compared with participants with persistently low CRP, participants in the early peak group had a higher risk of psychotic disorder (odds ratio (OR), 4.60; 95% CI, 1.81-11.70; P = .008), severe depression (OR, 4.37; 95% CI, 1.64-11.63; P = .02), and higher HOMA2 scores (β = .05; 95% CI, 0.01-0.62; P = .04). The late peak group was not associated with any outcomes at age 24 years.
Conclusions and relevance
Low-grade systemic inflammation that peaks in midlife was associated with certain psychiatric and cardiometabolic diseases in young adulthood. These findings suggest that low-grade persistent inflammation in early life may be an important common factor for mental and physical morbidity and may have implications for future efforts in patient stratification and risk profiling.
