A Genome-wide Association Study on the Endophenotype of Spatial Working Memory in ADHD

A Genome-wide Association Study on the Endophenotype of Spatial Working Memory in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Specific Aims:

1. To find the genetic variations associated with spatial working memory performance in patients with ADHD by using genome-wide association studies (GWAS);
2. To find the genetic variations associated with spatial working memory performance in healthy subjects by using GWAS;
3. To recruit a validation sample and to replicate the findings from the initial GWAS;
4. To test whether genetic variations significantly associated with spatial working memory are also associated with ADHD.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Detailed Description

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, is an early onset, highly heritable, clinically heterogeneous, long-term impairing disorder with tremendous impact on individuals, families, and societies. Our research team has conducted a series of biological studies on spatial working memory deficits of ADHD, and substantial evidence has suggested spatial working memory deficits as the important neuropsychological biomarker with translational values and favorable endophenotypic properties for ADHD. Despite the abundance of molecular genetic studies on ADHD, the genetic etiologies of ADHD have been non-conclusive. Because genetic studies on endophenotypes can offer more information on genetic and brain process, endophenotypic approach can efficiently enhance the statistical power and make genome-wide association studies (GWAS) applicable in much smaller sample. To date, there has been no GWAS study on spatial working memory deficits of ADHD.

This is a 3-year project. Our previous studies have collected blood samples and spatial working memory data of 382 patients with ADHD and 150 healthy subjects. In this 3-year project, we will recruit 232 healthy subjects, aged 7-18 years. The measures include (1) interviews for psychopathology (K-SADS-E), (2) questionnaires to measures ADHD symptoms (SNAP-IV), and (3) neuropsychological tests: Spatial Working Memory task of the CANTAB. In the first year, a case-only GWAS on spatial working memory (n = 254) will be conducted. In the second year, a control-only GWAS on spatial working memory (n = 254) will be conducted. In the third year, findings from the initial two GWAS will be replicated in a validation sample composed of 128 patients with ADHD and 128 healthy controls.

By careful calculation, a sample size of 382 ADHD subjects will provide adequate power to detect genome-wide significant genetic variations and replicate the findings in an independent validation sample. We anticipate to identify the relationship between genetic variations of ADHD and the endophenotype of spatial working memory. Our findings will significantly contribute to our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of ADHD, especially the pathological pathway from genes, through endophenotype, to behavioral phenotypes.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 232

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Taipei, Taiwan
    • National Taiwan Univeristy Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 3 years to 14 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The existing sample is composed of 382 children withADHD and 150 healthy subjects. We plan to recruit additional 232 healthy subjects (104 in the first year; 128 in the second year), aged 7 to 18 years.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects without any current or lifetime DSM-IV psychiatric disorders based on the K-SADS-E interviews.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants who had any past or current medical or neurological illness, who currently took psychotropic medication, or whose intelligence quotient (IQ) score was less than 80 were excluded.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Control
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
ADHD group; Subjects with clinical diagnosis of ADHD according to the DSM-IV criteria
TD group; Typically development controls without lifetime diagnosis with ADHD

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Psychiatric interview	Subjects will be interviewed by Chinese Version of the Kiddie Epidemiologic version of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS-E)	1 hour

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Spatial working memory	Subjects will be assessed by the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB)	30 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 31, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): July 31, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 13, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 13, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): March 17, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 2, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 1, 2021
• Last Verified: September 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Dyskinesias; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Hyperkinesis
• Other Study ID Numbers: 201412157RINA

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No