Inflammation-related epigenetic risk and child and adolescent mental health: A prospective study from pregnancy to middle adolescence

Edward D. Barker*, Charlotte A.M. Cecil, Esther Walton, Lotte C. Houtepen, Thomas G. O'Connor, Andrea Danese, Sara R. Jaffee, Sarah K.G. Jensen, Carmine Pariante, Wendy McArdle, Tom R. Gaunt, Caroline L. Relton, Susanna Roberts

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Citations (Scopus)
239 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In 785 mother-child (50% male) pairs from a longitudinal epidemiological birth cohort, we investigated associations between inflammation-related epigenetic polygenic risk scores (i-ePGS), environmental exposures, cognitive function, and child and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems. We examined prenatal and postnatal effects. For externalizing problems, one prenatal effect was found: i-ePGS at birth associated with higher externalizing problems (ages 7-15) indirectly through lower cognitive function (age 7). For internalizing problems, we identified two effects. For a prenatal effect, i-ePGS at birth associated with higher internalizing symptoms via continuity in i-ePGS at age 7. For a postnatal effect, higher postnatal adversity exposure (birth through age 7) associated with higher internalizing problems (ages 7-15) via higher i-ePGS (age 7). Hence, externalizing problems were related mainly to prenatal effects involving lower cognitive function, whereas internalizing problems appeared related to both prenatal and postnatal effects. The present study supports a link between i-ePGS and child and adolescent mental health.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1145-1156
Number of pages12
JournalDevelopment and Psychopathology
Volume30
Issue number3
Early online date2 Aug 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2018

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