The Phthalates - ADHD Connection

Plastic pervades our lives. Phthalates are one the group of chemicals most commonly added to plastics. They help the plastic be more pliable, but are not chemically bound to the plastic, so they are shed into the environment - and our bodies - during manufacturing, usage, recycling, and disposal of the plastics.
Many people are aware that the phthalates that permeate our world are endocrine disruptors and can impair sexual development and behavior. A number of studies, from America, Europe, and Asia, show an association between maternal exposure to phthalates and an increased occurrence of ADHD in children. In addition, exposing rodents to phthalates during pregnancy leads to ADHD-like behaviors, like inattention, and hyperactivity.

Phthalates probably contribute to the development of ADHD in several ways. Disruption of endocrine systems and reproductive hormone levels may be one such mechanism. But phthalates also affect thyroid hormone and growth hormone. They can disrupt neurogenesis (making new neurons) and synaptogenesis (connections between nerve cells). They can increase inflammation in the brain. Furthermore, they have epigenetic effects - modifying which and when genes are activated.

One recent study found that those with ADHD are more likely to have versions of liver enzymes that are less efficient at clearing phthalates from the body. This boosts levels of phthalates and increases the likelihood of damage from multiple pathways.

References:

The Association between ADHD and Environmental Chemicals—A Scoping Review (2022)

Exposure to environmental pollutants and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (2023)

Bisphenol-A and phthalate metabolism in children with neurodevelopmental disorders
(2023 article on glucorinidation to inactivate phthalates)

Prenatal Di-methoxyethyl phthalate exposure impairs cortical neurogenesis and synaptic activity in the mice (2023)

Interrelationships among growth hormone, thyroid function, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals on the susceptibility to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (2023)

Gestational Phthalate Exposure and Preschool Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Norway (2021)

Psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and author John Kruse, MD, PhD presents practical, actionable, well-researched information about treatment options that scientists and clinicians recommend for adult ADHD and other mental health conditions. Subscribe if you're curious about how neuro-atypical brains can optimize their functioning in our shared, and somewhat strange, world.

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