Dopamine transporter (DAT1/SLC6A3) polymorphism and the association between being born small for gestational age and symptoms of ADHD

K E Waldie; C M Cornforth; R E Webb; J M D Thompson; R Murphy; D Moreau; R Slykerman; A R Morgan; L R Ferguson; E A Mitchell

doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2017.06.040

Dopamine transporter (DAT1/SLC6A3) polymorphism and the association between being born small for gestational age and symptoms of ADHD

Behav Brain Res. 2017 Aug 30:333:90-97. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.06.040. Epub 2017 Jun 27.

Authors

K E Waldie¹, C M Cornforth², R E Webb³, J M D Thompson⁴, R Murphy⁵, D Moreau³, R Slykerman⁴, A R Morgan⁶, L R Ferguson⁶, E A Mitchell⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: k.waldie@auckland.ac.nz.
² The Institute for Disorders of Attention and Impulsivity, Developmental Brain Behaviour Laboratory, School of Psychology, The University of Southampton, UK; The Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
³ School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
⁴ The Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
⁵ Department of Medicine, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
⁶ Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.

PMID: 28666839
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.06.040

Abstract

Being small for gestational age (SGA) has been established as a risk factor for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Likewise, several molecular genetic studies have found a link between DAT1 and ADHD. This study investigated whether SGA moderates the effect of dopamine transporter gene variants on the risk of ADHD. A total of 546 children of European descent were genotyped at age 11 for seven DAT1 SNPs (rs6347, rs11564774, rs40184, rs1042098, rs2702, rs8179029 and rs3863145). The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to measure symptoms of ADHD at ages 3.5, 7 and 11. We found significant gene-environment interactions between birth weight and DAT1 SNPs (rs6347, rs40184, rs1042098, rs3863145) on ADHD symptoms at 3.5 years only. Results suggest that genotypic variation of DAT1 may confer a relative protective effect against ADHD in SGA individuals. This study supports the idea that being born SGA moderates the effect of the DAT1 gene on ADHD symptoms in the preschool years and may help to explain some of the heterogeneity in ADHD outcomes.

Keywords: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); DAT1/SLC6A3; Gene-environment interaction (GxE); Small for gestational age (SGA).

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Age Factors
Analysis of Variance
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / genetics*
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / physiopathology
Child
Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics*
Female
Gene-Environment Interaction*
Genotype
Gestational Age*
Humans
Male
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics*
Social Class
Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
SLC6A3 protein, human