ADHD as a (non) allergic hypersensitivity disorder: A hypothesis
Open accessAbstract
Research data concerning the causal association between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and allergies are conflicting. Allergic disorders, like asthma and eczema are clinical syndromes in which both genetic predisposition and environmental factors (pets, pollen and foods) contribute to its development. The hypothesis of ADHD, in some children also being an allergic disorder, is postulated based on comparison of the mechanisms underlying the development of ADHD and allergic disorders. According to the accepted terminology, ADHD may comply with the criteria of hypersensitivity, allergy and atopy. This hypothesis has to be thoroughly tested by randomized controlled trials using environmental triggers and immunologic research. As genes related to the immune system may be associated with ADHD, further genetic research is compulsory. Immunotherapeutic approaches, using immunotherapy and probiotics, can subsequently be implicated in the treatment of ADHD. If hypersensitivity to environmental stimuli like foods contributes to the development of ADHD, the assessment and treatment of ADHD will have to be reconsidered, thereby improving the quality of care for these patients.
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Dysfunction of immunoregulation by Treg cells and imbalance in the Th1/Th2 response might be a crucial factor in the development of allergies in children with ADHD, or a factor relating Th2-mediated hypersensitivity to ADHD development.
“This dysfunction of the immunoregulation by Treg cells and imbalance in the Th1/Th2 response might be a crucial factor in the development of allergies in children with ADHD [110], or a factor relating Th2-mediated hypersensitivity to ADHD development [111, 112].”
From Molecular Characterisation of the Mechanism of Action of Stimulant Drugs Lisdexamfetamine and Methylphenidate on ADHD Neurobiology: A Review (2022) · cites this paper as [111]
The Abstract hypothesizes that hypersensitivity to environmental stimuli may contribute to ADHD in some children. It does not identify Treg dysfunction or a Th1/Th2 imbalance as the factor linking hypersensitivity to ADHD; searches for those terms found no matching passage in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.78)
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Cites
Molecular genetics of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Faraone, S. V., Perlis, R. H., Doyle, A. E., Smoller, J. W., Goralnick, J. J., Holmgren, M. A., & Sklar, P. (2005) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2004.11.024 · Cited by 2,357 · see citing works
Molecular Genetics of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Faraone, S. V., & Mick, E. (2010) · Psychiatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.psc.2009.12.004 · Cited by 411 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Polymorphic variants in several genes involved in regulation of the dopamine, and related neurotransmitter pathways are reported to be associated with ADHD (22).”
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Developmental comorbidity in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Taurines, R., Schmitt, J., Renner, T., Conner, A. C., Warnke, A., & Romanos, M. (2010) · ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders · doi:10.1007/s12402-010-0040-0 · Cited by 198 · see citing works
Stevenson, J., Buitelaar, J., Cortese, S., Ferrin, M., Konofal, E., Lecendreux, M., Simonoff, E., Wong, I. C. K., & Sonuga‐Barke, E. (2014) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/jcpp.12215 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Self-citationQuintero, J., Gutiérrez-Casares, J. R., & Álamo, C. (2022) · Neurology and Therapy · doi:10.1007/s40120-022-00392-2 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
“This dysfunction of the immunoregulation by Treg cells and imbalance in the Th1/Th2 response might be a crucial factor in the development of allergies in children with ADHD [110], or a factor relating Th2-mediated hypersensitivity to ADHD development [111, 112].”
BackgroundRestriction and Elimination Diets in ADHD Treatment
Nigg, J. T., & Holton, K. (2014) · Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.chc.2014.05.010 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
- Authors
- Pelsser, L. M. J., Buitelaar, J. K., & Savelkoul, H. F. J.
- Affiliations
- Wageningen University & Research (NL)
- Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Savelkoul, Huub F. J.
- Venue
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2009-03
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 107-112
- ISSN
- 0905-6157 (ISSN-L)
- 1399-3038
- OpenAlex
- W2070914333
- Cited by
- 87
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 0.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- research.wur.nl
- Locations
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Asthma and respiratory diseases
- Keywords
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, allergic hypersensitivity, allergy, asthma, atopic dermatitis, atopy, food allergy, environmental triggers, immune system genes, immunotherapy, probiotics, children
- MeSH terms
- Allergens, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Cell Differentiation, Child, Desensitization, Immunologic, Diet Therapy, Dopamine, Humans, Hypersensitivity, Immediate, Neurons, Polymorphism, Genetic, Th2 Cells, Probiotics, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
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