Kynurenine and oxidative stress in children having learning disorder with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: possible role and involvement

Ayman Kilany; Neveen Hassan Nashaat; Hala M Zeidan; Adel F Hashish; Mostafa M El-Saied; Ehab Ragaa Abdelraouf

doi:10.1186/s12883-022-02886-w

Kynurenine and oxidative stress in children having learning disorder with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: possible role and involvement

BMC Neurol. 2022 Sep 20;22(1):356. doi: 10.1186/s12883-022-02886-w.

Authors

Ayman Kilany^{1

2}, Neveen Hassan Nashaat^{3

4}, Hala M Zeidan¹, Adel F Hashish¹, Mostafa M El-Saied^{1

5}, Ehab Ragaa Abdelraouf^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, Children with Special Needs Research Department, National Research Centre, Elbuhouth Street, Cairo, 12622, Dokki, Egypt.
² Pediatric Neurology Research Field, Medical Research Centre of Excellence, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.
³ Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, Children with Special Needs Research Department, National Research Centre, Elbuhouth Street, Cairo, 12622, Dokki, Egypt. dr.neveennashaat@gmail.com.
⁴ Learning Disability and Neurorehabilitation Research Field, Medical Research Centre of Excellence, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt. dr.neveennashaat@gmail.com.
⁵ Learning Disability and Neurorehabilitation Research Field, Medical Research Centre of Excellence, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: The etiological and pathophysiological factors of learning disorder (LD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are currently not well understood. These disorders disrupt some cognitive abilities. Identifying biomarkers for these disorders is a cornerstone to their proper management. Kynurenine (KYN) and oxidative stress markers have been reported to influence some cognitive abilities. Therefore, the aim was to measure the level of KYN and some oxidative stress indicators in children with LD with and without ADHD and to investigate their correlations with the abilities of children with LD.

Methods: The study included 154 participants who were divided into 3 groups: one for children who have LD (N = 69); another for children with LD and ADHD (N = 31); and a group for neurotypical (NT) children (N = 54). IQ testing, reading, writing, and other ability performance evaluation was performed for children with LD. Measuring plasma levels of KYN, malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed for all participants.

Results: Some IQ measures and learning skills differed between the first two groups. The biochemical measures differed between children with LD (with and without ADHD) and NT children (p < 0.001). However, the biochemical measures did not show a significant statistical difference between the first two groups. KYN and glutathione peroxidase levels were correlated with one-minute writing and at-risk quotient, respectively (p = 0.03;0.04). KYN and malondialdehyde showed the highest sensitivity and specificity values.

Conclusion: These biochemical measures could be involved or have a role in the abilities' performance of children with specific learning disorder.

Keywords: ADHD; Cognitive abilities; Kynurenine; Learning disorder; Oxidative stress.

MeSH terms

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / diagnosis
Child
Glutathione Peroxidase
Humans
Kynurenine
Learning Disabilities* / diagnosis
Malondialdehyde
Oxidative Stress
Superoxide Dismutase

Substances

Kynurenine
Malondialdehyde
Glutathione Peroxidase
Superoxide Dismutase