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GRIN2B predicts attention problems among disadvantaged children

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Abstract

It is well established that adversities and GRIN2B (coding an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunit) are independently associated with behavioral and cognitive impairments in childhood. However, a high proportion of children exposed to adversities have good, long-term outcomes. We hypothesized that among children exposed to adversities, GRIN2B variants would predict the worst cognitive and behavioral outcomes. 6 single nucleotide polymorphisms of GRIN2B were genotyped in 625 children aged 6–11 years from an Italian community-based sample. The interacting effect of GRIN2B variants with 4 measures of adversities [low socioeconomic status (SES), preterm delivery, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and absence of breastfeeding] was investigated upon blindly assessed cognitive abilities (vocabulary, block design, digit spans of Wechsler’s Intelligence Scale, and Rey complex figure) and parents-rated behavioral problems (Child Behavior Checklist/6–18). Rs2268119 × SES interaction (Hotelling’s Trace = 0.07; F(12,1154) = 3.53; p = 0.00004) influenced behavior, with more attention problems among children in the ‘either A/T or T/T genotype and low SES’ group, compared to all other groups. This interaction effect was not significant in an independent, replication sample of 475 subjects from an Italian community-based sample. GRIN2B variants predict children with the worst outcome in attention functioning among children exposed to low SES. Our findings, if replicated, could help in the identification of children with the highest risk and may prompt cost-effective preventive/treatment strategies.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all the teachers, parents, and children who took part and collaborated in this study. V Riva is a scholar in the San Raffaele University International Ph D Program in Developmental Psychopatology supported in part by CARIPLO Foundation ‘Human Talent’. This work is also supported by Fondazione Della Provincia Di Lecco Onlus/Rotary Club, Lecco (2010). All authors report no conflict of interest.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute ‘Eugenio Medea’, Don L. Monza 20, Bosisio Parini (LC), Italy

    Valentina Riva, Maria Nobile, Francesca Cattaneo, Claudio Lazazzera, Sara Mascheretti & Cecilia Marino

  2. The Academic Centre for the Study of Behavioural Plasticity, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20 via Stamira d’Ancona, Milan, Italy

    Valentina Riva

  3. Molecular Biology Laboratory, Scientific Institute ‘Eugenio Medea’, Don L Monza 20, Bosisio Parini (LC), Italy

    Roberto Giorda

  4. Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec, 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, Quebec, Canada

    Marco Battaglia, Chantal Mérette, Claudia Émond, Michel Maziade & Cecilia Marino

  5. Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Laval University, Quebec, Canada

    Marco Battaglia, Chantal Mérette, Claudia Émond, Michel Maziade & Cecilia Marino

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  1. Valentina Riva
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  2. Marco Battaglia
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Correspondence to Cecilia Marino.

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Riva, V., Battaglia, M., Nobile, M. et al. GRIN2B predicts attention problems among disadvantaged children. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 24, 827–836 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-014-0627-7

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