Common environmental chemicals and higher ADHD/autism-like traits in boys
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Male-biased Neurobehavioral Disorders
Researchers are looking at whether low-dose mixtures of everyday hormone-disrupting chemicals around birth change newborn testosterone and lead to attention, impulsivity, and social differences mainly in males.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11231692 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will use a curated mixture of endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in newborns (for example BPA and PFOA) to mimic realistic low-dose exposures. Pregnant mice will be exposed so offspring experience these chemicals around birth while newborn testosterone and androgen signaling are measured. Male offspring will be tested for attention, impulsivity, and social behaviors to see if exposures produce male-biased changes similar to ADHD and autism traits. Molecular studies of androgen receptors and hormone pathways will be combined with behavioral testing to link chemical exposure to brain and behavior changes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not recruit patients and is lab-focused, but it is most relevant to newborn and young boys at risk for ADHD or autism due to prenatal or early-life chemical exposures.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatments, adult patients, or those without concerns about prenatal/early-life chemical exposures are unlikely to get direct benefit from this preclinical mouse-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify how common chemical mixtures raise the risk of ADHD and autism-like behaviors in boys and inform prevention or regulatory steps.
How similar studies have performed: Epidemiological studies and prior animal work, including the investigators' own mouse data, have linked endocrine disruptors to male-biased neurobehavioral changes, though translating low-dose mixture effects to humans remains novel and uncertain.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- University of Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Terry, Marissa Sobolewski — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Terry, Marissa Sobolewski
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.