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(https://www.psypost.org/what-is-behind-the-growing-reluctance-to-discuss-politics-researchers-identify-a-potential-factor/) What is behind the growing reluctance to discuss politics? Researchers identify a potential factor
Oct 3rd 2024, 10:00

A recent study published in (https://www.nature.com/articles/s44271-024-00095-4) Communications Psychology investigates how certain beliefs about politics influence people’s willingness to engage in political discussions. Researchers found that individuals who see politics as a zero-sum game — where one side’s gain is inevitably another’s loss — are more likely to avoid conversations with people of differing political beliefs. This pattern was observed in both Israeli and American voters, particularly in the days leading up to major elections in their respective countries.
In recent years, political discourse has become more divisive, and many people avoid discussing politics altogether, especially with those who hold different views. This avoidance is problematic because political conversations are important for reducing polarization, promoting understanding, and exposing individuals to diverse perspectives. However, the reasons for this avoidance are complex.
The researchers proposed that zero-sum beliefs about politics might be a significant factor in why people refrain from talking to others with different political ideologies. By exploring this connection, the researchers hoped to uncover ways to encourage more constructive political conversations.
“We live in a time in which people are increasingly closing themselves off in their own political bubbles, ‘canceling’ anyone who disagrees with them and refusing to hear opinions that are opposed to their own,” said study author (https://www.shaidavidai.com/) Shai Davidai, an assistant professor of management at the Columbia Business School
“Unfortunately, this is especially common within academia – the place where such conversations are most needed – with many of my colleagues unable to name even one conservative or Republican friend. It was therefore important for me to try to understand why we are seeing such widespread avoidance of the conversations that are most needed.”
The researchers conducted two studies — one in Israel and one in the United States — involving voters just before national elections. Both studies used similar methods to investigate how zero-sum beliefs influenced political conversation avoidance.
In the Israeli study, 403 participants completed a survey the day before the 2022 parliamentary elections. They were asked about their political party affiliation, their beliefs about whether politics is a zero-sum game (for example, “When lawmakers from one party pass a bill, it comes at the expense of voters of other political parties”), how often they avoided political conversations with people who held different views, and their general openness to opposing viewpoints.
The U.S. study took place in two waves: one week before and one day before the 2022 midterm elections. A total of 579 participants took part in the first wave, and 480 returned for the second. Like the Israeli participants, they were asked about their political beliefs, how often they avoided political discussions, and their receptiveness to opposing viewpoints. They were also asked additional questions related to their personality traits and political ideologies.
Across both studies, the researchers found a clear link between zero-sum beliefs about politics and the avoidance of political conversations. In other words, the more participants saw politics as a zero-sum game, the more they tended to avoid talking about it with people who had different political views. This pattern held true for voters in both Israel and the United States, despite the significant differences in their political systems.
The researchers identified two key factors that mediated this relationship. First, people with strong zero-sum beliefs were more likely to expect political conversations to lead to conflict. Second, zero-sum thinkers were less receptive to opposing views, meaning they were less willing to consider perspectives that differed from their own.
Interestingly, the researchers found that this avoidance behavior was not influenced by political affiliation or ideology. Whether participants identified as liberal, conservative, or somewhere in between, their belief in zero-sum politics was the strongest predictor of their reluctance to engage in political discussions.
“As we are nearing the 2024 Presidential Elections, the average person should ask themselves the following two questions: Have I had any meaningful, in-person, civil conversations with someone I disagree with over the past month? And, if not, why?” Davidai told PsyPost.
“There are undoubtedly certain issues that are zero-sum. For instance, someone who believes in a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestine conflict will find it difficult to find common ground with someone who believes that the State of Israel has no right to exist. Yet, many things – from common sense gun rules and abortion policies to issues involving the taxes, tariffs, and immigration – are not zero-sum. Unfortunately, when people treat them as such, they avoid talking about them.”
While this study offers important insights, it also has some limitations. One major limitation is that the findings are correlational, meaning they show a relationship between zero-sum beliefs and conversation avoidance but cannot definitively prove that one causes the other.
Although the study’s design suggests that zero-sum beliefs are more likely to lead to avoidance than the reverse, more research is needed to establish a clear causal link. Future studies could use experimental methods to manipulate zero-sum beliefs and observe their impact on political behavior.
“The most important caveat is that our work is correlational and longitudinal, and as thus cannot directly determine causation,” Davidai noted. “More work will be needed to achieve that.
Looking forward, Davidai hopes to continue to shed light on “when and why people view issues as zero-sum, what are the implications of doing so, and how can we hopefully reduce such zero-sum beliefs when they are erroneous.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00095-4) Zero-sum beliefs and the avoidance of political conversations,” was authored by F. Katelynn Boland and Shai Davidai.

(https://www.psypost.org/individuals-who-experienced-more-adversity-as-children-are-less-responsive-to-methamphetamine/) Individuals who experienced more adversity as children are less responsive to methamphetamine
Oct 3rd 2024, 08:00

An analysis of data from several previous studies indicated that individuals who experienced more childhood adversity tend to show dampened subjective responses to methamphetamine and d-amphetamine 90 to 180 minutes after administration. However, their subjective responses to buprenorphine were not affected, and this drug had little overall effect on the participants. The research was published in the (https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811241268892) Journal of Psychopharmacology.
Individuals with substance use problems often have a history of childhood abuse and neglect. Childhood abuse and neglect involve harmful behaviors or the failure to provide necessary care, leading to physical, emotional, or psychological harm. Abuse can be physical, emotional, or sexual, occurring when a child is deliberately mistreated or violated. Neglect, on the other hand, happens when a child’s basic needs, such as food, shelter, medical care, or emotional support, are not met.
Both abuse and neglect can have long-term effects on a child’s development, mental health, and ability to form relationships. These experiences often lead to trauma, which may result in anxiety, depression, or other difficulties in adulthood, including a higher propensity for substance use disorders.
Study author Molly Carlyle and her colleagues aimed to explore the impact of early life adversities on drug reward. In other words, they sought to determine whether childhood experiences of abuse and neglect influence how a person experiences drugs.
They analyzed data from existing randomized, placebo-controlled trials in which healthy adults received single doses of the psychoactive drugs methamphetamine, d-amphetamine, and buprenorphine. The first two are dopamine agonists, meaning they mimic the effects of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, meaning it activates opioid receptors in the brain but produces a weaker response compared to full agonists.
The study authors analyzed data collected by the Human Behavioral Psychopharmacology Laboratory at the University of Chicago. This included three studies conducted on adults aged 18-40 who were recruited to participate in research involving drug administration. Study 1 involved 61 healthy participants receiving oral methamphetamine (20 mg). In the second study, 112 healthy adults received 20 mg of d-amphetamine, while the third study involved 38 participants receiving 0.2 mg of buprenorphine.
In all three studies, participants’ subjective responses to the drugs were assessed using the Drug Effects Questionnaire 90 to 180 minutes after administration. This questionnaire asks participants to rate how strongly they feel the effect of the drug, how high they are, how much they like or dislike the effects, and whether they would want more of the drug. Participants also completed an assessment of childhood adversity experiences using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.
The results showed that participants reporting higher levels of childhood adversity tended to report lower subjective effects of methamphetamine and d-amphetamine. These individuals reported feeling the drug effects less intensely, liking them less, and experiencing a lower drug-induced high. However, the degree to which participants disliked the drug or wanted more of it was not associated with reported childhood adversity.
Buprenorphine had little effect on participants overall. The effects of the dose used in the study were indistinguishable from placebo (when participants received a pill they believed contained the drug, but it did not). These effects, or the lack thereof, were not associated with reported childhood adversity.
“Overall, participants with more childhood adversities reported dampened subjective responses to stimulant drugs, but not to buprenorphine. Future studies should examine the generalisability of these relationships, to identify the mechanisms underlying the link between childhood adversity and drug responsiveness,” the study authors concluded.
The study points to possible effects of childhood adversity on drug experiences. However, it should be noted that the study relied solely on self-reports. Therefore, it remains unclear whether individuals with childhood adversity experiences actually feel lower effects of stimulant drugs, or if they simply tend to report drug experiences differently, rating the same intensity of (pleasant) drug experiences as lower.
The paper, “(https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811241268892) Impact of childhood adversity on acute subjective effects of stimulant and opioid drugs: Evidence from placebo-controlled studies in healthy volunteers,” was authored by Molly Carlyle, Harriet de Wit, and Siri Leknes.

(https://www.psypost.org/mentally-stimulating-activities-linked-to-slower-cognitive-decline-in-older-adults-study-finds/) Mentally stimulating activities linked to slower cognitive decline in older adults, study finds
Oct 3rd 2024, 06:00

New research published in the (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/psyg.13083) Journal of Cognitive Enhancement has found that older adults who regularly participated in mentally challenging activities, such as reading or puzzles, maintained higher levels of memory, working memory, attention, and processing speed over several years compared to those who were less active in these areas. Importantly, those with the highest levels of participation consistently exhibited better cognitive health throughout the study period.
As individuals age, cognitive decline becomes a natural part of the aging process, with mild cognitive impairment often seen as a precursor to dementia. Mild cognitive impairment is characterized by a noticeable decline in cognitive abilities, including memory and thinking skills, but not severe enough to interfere significantly with daily life. The conversion rate of mild cognitive impairment to dementia is approximately 10% per year, making it a critical area for research.
Current treatments for cognitive decline include both pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches, but medications often come with side effects and may not be suitable for long-term use. Nonpharmacological interventions, particularly those that involve mentally stimulating activities, have gained attention as a way to preserve cognitive function. However, questions remain about the optimal level of engagement in these activities to maximize cognitive benefits. The researchers behind the new study aimed to address this gap.
“I am interested in cognitive care and have investigated the health benefits of cognitively stimulating activities among the geriatric population,” said study author Jungjoo (Jay) Lee, an assistant professor in the School of Health Professions, College of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of Southern Mississippi.
“Existing studies describe activities such as reading books, newspapers, and journaling as sedentary, recommending that these be redirected to encourage physical activities to manage cognitive function. Conversely, I want to highlight the positive impact of cognitively stimulating activities rather than avoiding them as part of cognitive care strategies from a longitudinal perspective.”
The research team analyzed data from a large, ongoing survey called the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), which collects detailed information on aging Americans. For this study, they focused on data from 2012 to 2020, examining a subset of 5,932 older adults with MCI. The participants were divided into three groups based on their level of participation in cognitively stimulating leisure activities: high, medium, and low. These levels were determined based on how frequently participants engaged in activities like reading, playing games, or doing puzzles
Cognitive function was measured using three domains: memory, working memory, and attention and processing speed. Memory was assessed using tests of immediate and delayed recall of words, working memory was measured by asking participants to subtract numbers in a sequence, and attention and processing speed were evaluated through tasks that involved counting backward.
The researchers found that cognitive function naturally declined across all participants over time, which aligns with the typical aging process. However, those who engaged in cognitively stimulating activities more frequently had consistently better cognitive function than those in the low-participation group. In fact, participants in the high-participation group maintained higher levels of memory, working memory, and attention and processing speed throughout the eight-year study period.
The findings indicate that “the cognitive care program needs a comprehensive design that includes physical activities, cognitively stimulating activities, and community engagements,” Lee told PsyPost. “Balanced therapeutic strategies incorporating all these healthy behaviors will boost cognitive health benefits rather than focusing on a single domain. I suggest consulting with trained health professionals such as recreational therapists and occupational therapists to design evidence-based cognitive care programs that optimize health benefits.”
While the study accounted for some demographic factors like age and gender, other potential confounders—such as socioeconomic status, health conditions, or life events—were not fully addressed. These factors could influence both a person’s ability to engage in cognitively stimulating leisure activities and their overall cognitive health. Future studies should aim to control for these variables to gain a clearer understanding of the relationship between leisure activities and cognitive function.
“The groups engaging in cognitively stimulating activities more than twice a week consistently presented higher memory, working memory, and attention than groups that participated less in the activities,” Lee said. “However, further investigation is required to control internal and external confounders affecting healthy behaviors and each cognitive function.”
“Our team has investigated the longitudinal impacts of health behaviors on cognitive function, mental health, and the risk of chronic diseases in the marginalized population. This research is part of studies generating longitudinal evidence to design therapeutic interventions that promote cognitive health among older adults. Recently, our team has applied digital health technologies in cognitive health care, such as virtual reality, mobile health, and digital Jigsawdio puzzles. These digital health applications will provide individualized and standardized, high-quality interventions as well as enhance health equity for individuals who are geographically and economically marginalized.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1111/psyg.13083) The longitudinal relationship between levels of cognitively stimulating leisure activity and positive and negative affect among older adults with MCI,” was authored by Jungjoo Lee, Junhyoung Kim, and Dubravka Svetina Valdivia.

(https://www.psypost.org/the-potential-psychological-harm-of-being-labeled-as-addicted-to-pornography/) The potential psychological harm of being labeled as “addicted” to pornography
Oct 2nd 2024, 16:00

A recent study published in the (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-024-02966-7) Archives of Sexual Behavior offers new insights into how labeling oneself as addicted to pornography might influence both personal and relational outcomes. The study found that while identifying as addicted to pornography is linked with various negative outcomes, it is particularly associated with communication discomfort about pornography and a higher likelihood of relationship dissolution. Notably, these relationship outcomes persisted even after accounting for the degree to which individuals reported their pornography use as compulsive or difficult to control.
Instead, “problematic pornography use” refers to cases where individuals’ consumption of pornography becomes excessive, dysregulated, and has a negative impact on their lives. This might manifest as an inability to control one’s use despite wanting to stop, leading to personal distress, relationship problems, or interference with daily responsibilities.
The term “problematic pornography use” is preferred over “addiction” in the scientific community for several reasons. One key reason is that the term “addiction” carries significant stigma and moral judgment, which can exacerbate negative outcomes for individuals who feel they have a problem with pornography. While “addiction” has long been associated with substance use disorders, its application to behaviors like pornography use remains controversial, partly because behavioral addictions are not universally recognized in diagnostic criteria such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
Previous research has shown that the way individuals perceive and label their pornography use can lead to negative psychological and relational consequences. The researchers aimed to investigate whether identifying as addicted—rather than simply feeling out of control—contributes uniquely to these negative outcomes.
The study involved a sample of 1,099 participants, all of whom had some history of pornography use and were currently in a romantic relationship. The participants were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), an online platform frequently used for social science research due to its accessibility and relatively diverse sample pool. The participants completed a 10-15 minute survey that asked about their pornography use, their thoughts on their use, and how it impacted both their personal psychological state and their relationship dynamics.
The key variable of interest was how strongly participants agreed with the statement, “I would consider myself addicted to pornography,” rated on a scale from 1 (very strongly disagree) to 6 (very strongly agree). The researchers also measured participants’ compulsive pornography use—how much they felt their use was out of control—using the Sexual Compulsivity Scale.
The researchers found that participants who identified as addicted to pornography experienced a variety of negative outcomes. Initially, before accounting for compulsivity, those who agreed more strongly with the label of addiction reported higher levels of depression, suicidal thoughts, discomfort communicating about pornography with their partner, and a higher likelihood of having a relationship end due to pornography use. Importantly, these associations were found even after controlling for how often participants actually used pornography and other demographic factors.
However, when compulsive behavior was added into the analysis, a more nuanced picture emerged. The link between identifying as addicted and personal psychological outcomes—such as depression and suicidal ideation—disappeared once compulsivity was accounted for. This suggests that it is the sense of losing control over pornography use, rather than the label of addiction itself, that is driving the connection to depression and suicidal thoughts.
In contrast, identifying as addicted remained significantly associated with relationship outcomes even when compulsivity was considered. Participants who labeled themselves as addicted were still more likely to report communication discomfort around pornography use and a higher likelihood of having experienced a relationship end solely due to their pornography use. This indicates that the addiction label may uniquely affect relationships, contributing to challenges such as difficulty discussing pornography with a partner and greater relationship instability.
“The main takeaway from the findings is that individuals need to be cautious in labeling their behavior surrounding pornography use,” said study author Carson R. Dover, a research assistant at Brigham Young University. “There seems to be a stigma around the label ‘addict’ which may hinder progress toward individuals overcoming their perceived problematic use. This also means that for people who are confided in about someone else’s pornography use, we should focus on helping the individual with what they need rather than labeling them in a certain way which may not be beneficial.”
But it is important to note that the study’s design was cross-sectional, meaning it only captured data at one point in time. This makes it difficult to determine the direction of cause and effect. For instance, while the researchers found that identifying as addicted was linked to negative relationship outcomes, it is possible that people in troubled relationships may be more likely to label themselves as addicted to pornography, rather than the label causing the relationship issues.
Additionally, the data was collected almost ten years ago, and pornography use and the technology surrounding it have evolved since then. “The major caveat to this paper is that it is only one study with one sample,” Dover explained. “While we did find significant results, more studies need to continue to address this topic and understand more about the “addict” label.”
“I hope that these findings empower people to acknowledge the struggles and issues surrounding pornography use in a meaningful way, and change their behavior if desired,” Dover said. “In other words, I want these findings to help people understand that they can change their behavior instead of giving up because they think that their ‘addiction’ makes them powerless.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-024-02966-7) Labels Are For Soup Cans: How Self‑Labeling as ‘Addicted’ to Pornography Is Associated with Negative Outcomes,” was authored by Carson R.Dover, Nathan D. Leonhardt, and Michelle H. Edwards.

(https://www.psypost.org/adhd-could-mask-warning-signs-of-alcohol-dependency/) ADHD could mask warning signs of alcohol dependency, rodent study suggests
Oct 2nd 2024, 14:00

New research raises concerns about the co-use of prescription stimulants and alcohol in adolescents with ADHD. The study, published in the (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00952990.2024.2349885) American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, found that adolescent rats exhibiting ADHD-like symptoms tend to be resistant to developing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, especially when alcohol is consumed alongside amphetamine. This resistance could obscure warning signs of alcohol dependency.
The study was driven by growing concerns over the non-medical use of amphetamine-based stimulants prescribed for ADHD, especially when these medications are mixed with alcohol. Adolescents and young adults are particularly vulnerable during this critical period of brain development, exhibiting higher tendencies toward binge drinking and misuse of stimulant medications. Research indicates that individuals who use stimulants without a prescription are more inclined to combine them with alcohol, leading to heavier drinking episodes and heightened risks of substance abuse.
Combining stimulants like amphetamines with alcohol is especially troubling because stimulants can counteract the sedative effects of alcohol. This interaction may result in increased alcohol consumption without individuals recognizing the potential harm. Given that individuals with ADHD are at an elevated risk for developing substance use disorders, including alcohol use disorder, the researchers sought to investigate whether the attenuation of alcohol withdrawal symptoms observed in general populations also occurs in an ADHD model.
“I have long been interested in the combined use of alcohol and other drugs, especially stimulants like caffeine and amphetamine. I am also interested in how the still-developing brain of adolescents responds to drugs. Over the last few decades, there have been increases, particularly among older adolescents, in the off-prescription (i.e., non-medical) use of amphetamine-based drugs that are commonly prescribed to individuals with a diagnosis of ADHD,” said study author Dennis E. Rhoads, professor emeritus of biology at Monmouth University.
“Because people have admitted to combining these with consumption of alcoholic beverages, we modeled adolescent combined use of amphetamine and alcohol in rats and discovered that the co-administration of amphetamine decreased subsequent alcohol withdrawal symptoms. In humans, appearance of alcohol withdrawal symptoms can serve as a cue of a developing alcohol use disorder, and thus, these cues are altered if someone is regularly using a stimulant with alcohol. Given this discovery, we wondered how the ADHD-brain, for which amphetamine is therapeutic, would respond to the use of amphetamine and alcohol, alone and in combination.”
To investigate this, the researchers used three strains of adolescent rats: Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR), Long-Evans (LE) rats, and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. SHR rats are often used to model ADHD due to their overactivity, impulsiveness, and difficulty maintaining sustained attention, which are traits associated with ADHD. The WKY strain served as a genetic control for the SHR rats, while the LE strain was included to provide an additional comparison.
The researchers used liquid diets to administer ethanol (alcohol), amphetamine, or a combination of the two to the rats over a period of up to 26 days. The rats were divided into four groups: a control group with no added substances, an ethanol-only group, an amphetamine-only group, and a group consuming both ethanol and amphetamine.
At various intervals—after 5, 12, 19, and 26 days of diet consumption—the rats were observed for signs of alcohol withdrawal. These signs included reduced movement (hypoactivity) and anxiety-like behavior, which were assessed using special activity chambers that allowed the researchers to measure how much the rats moved and how they behaved in a light-dark environment, a common test for anxiety in animals. The severity of withdrawal was scored on a scale based on the presence of behaviors such as tremors, hyperactivity, and convulsions.
One finding was that the SHR rats (the model for ADHD) showed a remarkable resistance to developing the more severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms seen in the other two strains. While all three strains showed hypoactivity (reduced movement) during alcohol withdrawal, the SHR rats did not progress to more severe symptoms like convulsions or anxiety-like behavior. In contrast, the LE and WKY rats displayed these severe withdrawal symptoms.
The researchers “were surprised to find that these rats did not develop the common alcohol withdrawal symptoms,” Rhoads told PsyPost. “The major discovery was the absence here of the expected alcohol withdrawal symptoms even after long periods of alcohol consumption.”
Another important finding was that co-consumption of amphetamine with alcohol had different effects depending on the strain. For the LE and WKY rats, co-consumption of amphetamine significantly reduced the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, including hypoactivity and anxiety-like behavior. However, for the SHR rats, amphetamine co-consumption did not appear to have any effect on withdrawal severity — it neither increased nor decreased the symptoms.
“People who are regularly using a stimulant with alcohol may show less of the alcohol withdrawal symptoms that would otherwise serve as a cue that they are developing an alcohol use disorder, i.e., a clear sign that they are drinking too much, too often. However, some individuals with a diagnosis of ADHD may naturally exhibit fewer alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Thus, this important symptom of an emerging alcohol use disorder may be missing.”
But the study, like all research, includes some caveats. The study was conducted on rats, which, while useful models for understanding human behavior, are not perfect stand-ins for human experiences with alcohol and stimulants. “Adolescents of the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR) show specific behaviors that led other investigators to develop them as a model for studying ADHD, or at least some sub-population of individuals with this diagnosis,” Rhoads noted. “Our findings are based on comparing SHR to other strains of rats.”
Further research in humans is necessary to determine whether people with ADHD, particularly those who regularly take amphetamine-based medications, might similarly experience a lack of warning signs for alcohol use disorder due to reduced withdrawal symptoms.
Looking ahead, Rhoads outlined two goals for this line of research: “One is to continue studying SHR to understand why they do not develop the alcohol withdrawal symptoms typically observed when rats are consuming alcohol. Is there something different about how their brain adapts (or does not adapt) to the presence of alcohol?”
“The second is to determine if there is translational value of this study for humans, particularly in the case of ADHD. Is there any evidence that alcohol withdrawal symptoms are sometimes attenuated in individuals with an ADHD diagnosis? There have been a number of studies of the co-occurrence of ADHD and alcohol use disorder, but more detail is needed about the specific symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2024.2349885) Alcohol withdrawal and amphetamine co-use in an animal model for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,” was authored by Pooja M. Shah, Nicholas R. Pillarella, Marta Telatin, Natalie C. Negroni, Jessica N. Baals, Grace L. Haemmerle, Bruno T. Pillari, and Dennis E. Rhoads.

(https://www.psypost.org/inflammatory-genes-linked-to-autism-risk-in-children-of-mothers-with-asthma/) Inflammatory genes linked to autism risk in children of mothers with asthma
Oct 2nd 2024, 12:00

A longitudinal study in Australia found that children of mothers with asthma who had increased expression of specific inflammatory genes were more likely to show autism-related behaviors at 12 months. The genes in question were CYSLTR2, NOX1, C1QA, CXCL10, C8A, and IL23R. The research was published in (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100845) Brain, Behavior, & Immunity – Health.
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is a developmental condition that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior. Individuals with autism can exhibit a wide range of abilities and challenges, making it a highly variable condition. Some may have intellectual disabilities, while others may excel in specific areas, such as mathematics or the arts.
Common traits of autism include difficulties in social interaction, repetitive behaviors, and increased sensitivity to sensory inputs, such as light or sound. While the exact causes of autism are not fully understood, genetic, environmental, and immune-related factors are believed to contribute.
Recent research has pointed to the potential role of the mother’s immune system during pregnancy in influencing the likelihood of autism-related traits in infants. When a pregnant woman’s immune system becomes activated—whether due to infections, chronic conditions, or allergies—it can release immune molecules that cross the placenta and may impact fetal brain development. This phenomenon is known as maternal immune activation, and it has been implicated in neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism.
One condition known to be caused by aberrant activity of the immune system is asthma. Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways and it is the leading immune disease to complicate pregnancy. Studies indicate that children of mothers with asthma are more likely to develop autism.
Study author Vanessa E. Murphy and her colleagues wanted to investigate whether inflammatory gene biomarkers in blood of mothers were associated with increased likelihood of autism in their infants. Participants of their study were pregnant women recruited as part of the Breathing for Life Trial, an experimental study of novel ways to manage asthma, and their children participating in a follow-up study. All the needed data were provided by 24 mother-infant pairs.
The study was conducted as part of the Breathing for Life Trial, an Australian clinical trial investigating asthma management during pregnancy. The researchers selected 24 mother-infant pairs from this trial, all of whom provided both maternal blood samples during pregnancy and completed assessments of their infants’ early behavioral development.
The participating women were recruited between the 12th and 23rd weeks of pregnancy from John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, Australia. The researchers collected data on each mother’s age, body mass index (BMI), gestational age, smoking status, asthma symptoms, medication use, and lung function. Importantly, they also took blood samples from the mothers during mid-pregnancy.
>From these blood samples, the research team extracted RNA and measured the activity of 249 genes involved in inflammation using an advanced technique called the nCounter Human Inflammation panel (developed by Nanostring Technologies). This allowed them to profile inflammatory gene expression in each mother.
When the infants were 12 months old, the researchers used a validated parent-report tool called the First Year Inventory (FYI) to assess the likelihood of autism-related behaviors. The FYI evaluates early signs of autism in two key domains: social communication and sensory regulation. Infants with an FYI score of 19.2 or higher were classified as having an increased likelihood of autism, while those with lower scores were classified as having a low likelihood.
Of the 24 infants in the study, four were found to have an increased likelihood of autism-related behaviors, while the remaining 20 had a low likelihood. Interestingly, the mothers of infants in the high-likelihood group showed significantly higher activity of six inflammatory genes: CYSLTR2, NOX1, C1QA, CXCL10, C8A, and IL23R.
The researchers also found that two of these genes—CYSLTR2 and CXCL10—were particularly correlated with social communication difficulties in the infants, as measured by their FYI scores. This suggests that maternal expression of these genes during pregnancy may be linked to early social communication challenges in infants, a hallmark trait associated with autism.
Additionally, two other genes—ALOX5 and MAFK—were linked to sensory regulation difficulties in the infants. Sensory regulation refers to how children process and respond to sensory stimuli, such as sounds, lights, or touch. Differences in sensory regulation are also common in children on the autism spectrum. Infants whose mothers had higher levels of these genes during pregnancy tended to have more pronounced difficulties with sensory regulation.
These findings indicate that maternal immune system activity, particularly inflammation, may be linked to distinct autism-related traits in early infancy, including social communication and sensory regulation challenges.
“Six inflammatory genes were upregulated in mothers whose infants displayed a high likelihood for autism and had high scores in the social communication domain, at 12 months of age. The data also suggest that specific maternal inflammatory biomarkers may be linked to distinct autism sub-phenotypes,” the study authors concluded.
The study points to a potential novel way to predict the likelihood of autism during pregnancy. However, it should be noted that the number of participants in this study was very small, and these individuals were selected from a much larger group of 731 mothers participating in the Breathing for Life Trial. In addition, the FYI is a screening tool for autism-related behaviors, not a diagnostic test, meaning it identifies children who may be at higher risk for later autism diagnosis but does not confirm the condition itself.
The paper, “(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100845) Autism likelihood in infants born to mothers with asthma is associated with blood inflammatory gene biomarkers in pregnancy,” was authored by Vanessa E. Murphy, Olivia Whalen, Evan J. Williams, Peter G. Gibson, Linda E. Campbell, Frini Karayanidis, Carly A. Mallise, Alix Woolard, Annelies L. Robijn, Joerg Mattes, Adam M. Collison, Alison E. Lane, and Katherine J. Baines.

Forwarded by:
Michael Reeder LCPC
Baltimore, MD

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