Sleep-related traits and ADHD comorbidity: shared genetic risk factors, molecular mechanisms, and causal effects

Sleep-related traits and ADHD comorbidity: shared genetic risk factors, molecular mechanisms, and causal effects

Carpena MX, Bonilla C, Matijasevich A, Martins-Silva T, Genro JP, Hutz MH, Rohde LA, Tovo-Rodrigues L.

World J Biol Psychiatry. 2021 Apr 6:1-39.
doi: 10.1080/15622975.2021.1907719.

Commentary* by Dr. Margaret Weiss: Sleep and ADHD: a 24-hour disorder. We are starting to understand why.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To evaluate the shared genetic components, common pathways and causal relationship between ADHD and sleep-related phenotypes.

Methods: We used the largest genome-wide association summary statistics available for attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and various sleep-related phenotypes (insomnia, napping, daytime dozing, snoring, ease getting up, daytime sleepiness, sleep duration and chronotype). We estimated the genomic correlation using cross-trait linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSR) and investigated the potential common mechanisms using gene-based cross-trait metanalyses and functional enrichment analyses. The causal effect was estimated using two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR), using the inverse variance weighted method as the main estimator.

Results: A positive genomic correlation between insomnia, daytime napping, daytime dozing, snoring, daytime sleepiness, short and long sleep duration, and ADHD was observed. Insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and snoring shared genes with ADHD, that are involved in neurobiological functions and regulatory signaling pathways. The TSMR supported a causal effect of insomnia, daytime napping, and short sleep duration on ADHD, and of ADHD on long sleep duration and chronotype.

Conclusion: Comorbidity between sleep phenotypes and ADHD may be mediated by common genetic factors that play an important role in neuronal signaling pathways. A causal effect of sleep disturbances and short sleep duration on ADHD reinforced their role as predictors of ADHD.

 * Abstracts are selected for their clinical relevance by Dr. Margaret Weiss, Director of Clinical Research, Child Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard University. Her commentary reflects her own opinion.  It is not approved or necessarily representative of the CADDRA board.