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Determining the Impact of Air Pollution on the Developing Brain

Conditions
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Social Functioning
Attention
Executive Functioning
Interventions
Diagnostic Test: Psychological testing and MRI imaging
Registration Number
NCT04574414
Lead Sponsor
Jagiellonian University
Brief Summary

* Background: Recent studies have linked exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) to neurodevelopmental outcomes but the findings are mixed and mechanisms are unclear. We aim to determine the impact of PM on the developing brain of schoolchildren in Poland, a European country characterized by very high levels of air pollution. The investigators aim to determine the impact of PM on the developing brain of schoolchildren in Poland, a European country characterized by very high levels of air pollution.

* Study area: 19 towns in three voivodeships (Lesser Poland, Silesian, Opole) in the southern Poland. To reduce confounding by urbanicity and at the same time, to achieve sufficient contrasts in PM levels without too high logistic costs, towns were selected by size (big and small) and by PM levels (high, medium and low).

* Design: Case-control study with 800 children recruited over two school years, with two population controls per one ADHD case. Suspected cases will be recruited in specialized facilities and presumably ADHD-free children will be recruited in primary schools.

* Exposure assessment: Poland-wide PM and other air pollutants' grids will be created for the years 2006 to 2021 using statistical models to incorporate land use data, estimates from transport models, satellite observations and air pollution measurements from Polish monitoring network. Prenatal, early-life, lifelong and concurrent exposures will be calculated.

* Psychological testing: Every child and their parents will complete a series of psychological tests and interviews that will be conducted during their three visits to the recruitment facility.

* Neuroimaging: Each participant will undergo a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning session that will be performed accordingly to the Human Connectome Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development project recommendations. Scanning will be performed on a single scanner in Krakow.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
800
Inclusion Criteria
  • Attending school in one of the specified towns
  • Age 10-13 years (4th-6th grade)
  • Native Polish speaker
  • Normal or above intelligence
  • Standard educational opportunities
  • Normal or corrected to normal visual and auditory acuity
  • No gross sensory deficit, no gross behavioural problems
  • No history of neurological disease
Exclusion Criteria
  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
  • FAS
  • FAE
  • Intellectual disability
  • Metabolic disorders
  • Genetic disorders
  • Epilepsy
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Mood disorders
  • Tourette Syndrome
  • Other illnesses including pharmacotherapy
  • Apgar score < 8
  • Low birth weight (below 2500 g)
  • Preterm birth (below 35th weeks of gestation)

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderPsychological testing and MRI imagingCases
Children without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderPsychological testing and MRI imagingPopulation controls
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Cognitive functioningOctober 1, 2020 until December 31, 2022

Memory, attention, and executive functions measurement will be assessed by Diagnostic battery for cognitive functions evaluation (PU1)

Inhibition controlOctober 1, 2020 until December 31, 2022

Go/No Go task will be used as part of MRI measurements.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)October 1, 2020 until December 31, 2022

ADHD and comorbidities will be assessed by Conners 3 questionnaire

Attention controlOctober 1, 2020 until December 31, 2022

Attention Network Test (ANT) will be used.

Sustained and selective attentionOctober 1, 2020 until December 31, 2022

Computer Conners Continuous Performance Task (CPT) will be used.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (IQ)October 1, 2020 until December 31, 2022

IQ will be measured by Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, 5th Edition (SB5).

Family functioningOctober 1, 2020 until December 31, 2022

Polish adaptation of the FACES-IV (Flexibility and Cohesion Evaluation Scales; SOR) will be used to estimate social functioning of the children (family functioning).

Behavioural, emotional, and social problemsOctober 1, 2020 until December 31, 2022

Youth Self-Report Scale (YSR) will be used for this assessment.

Relationships with siblingsOctober 1, 2020 until December 31, 2022

Siblings Relationship Questionnaire (KRR), which is a supplement for the SOR Scale will be used to assess social functioning of the children (relationships with siblings).

Behavioural problemsOctober 1, 2020 until December 31, 2022

Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) questionnaire will collect information on the eight syndrome domains: anxious/depressed, depressed, somatic complaints, social problems, thought problems, attention problems, rule-breaking behaviour, aggressive behaviour

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Institute of Psychology

🇵🇱

Kraków, Poland

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