Senior Media Relations Specialist

Nicole Rideout

Senior Media Relations Specialist

503-494-8231

Study identifies link between caregiver-child relationship, ADHD symptoms
By Nicole Rideout August 03, 2026
An OHSU study finds that sensitive early caregiving may buffer children from the increased risk of ADHD symptoms associated with inflammation during pregnancy. “We know that genetics play a role in ADHD, but what this research demonstrates is that the early environment is also an important factor,” says Hanna Gustafsson, Ph.D. “Fetal brain development and risk for ADHD are influenced by the prenatal environment. Yet brain development doesn’t stop when a child is born; it continues throughout life and can be molded by children’s experiences, their family relationships, and their community."
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