Insecticide exposure and ADHD risk in teens
Adolescent Insecticide Exposure and ADHD Risk: Mechanisms of Immediate Effects and Long-term Vulnerability
This project compares adolescents with higher insecticide exposure to those with lower exposure to see if exposure is linked to more ADHD symptoms now and later.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11295370 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will follow adolescents, including an occupational cohort of Egyptian pesticide applicators, to compare ADHD symptoms and performance on attention and executive function tests between those with high and low insecticide exposure. They will measure insecticide body burdens, including α-cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos, and collect biological markers such as epigenetic changes and indicators of dopamine system function. Parallel mouse experiments will model combined adolescent exposures to explore how these chemicals alter brain development and behavior. The combined human and animal approaches aim to clarify immediate effects during adolescence and mechanisms that could create long-term vulnerability.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents (about 12–20 years old), especially those with known or suspected higher insecticide exposure such as agricultural pesticide applicators, and their less-exposed peers for comparison.
Not a fit: People whose ADHD is unrelated to insecticide exposure, or adults who were not exposed during adolescence, may not directly benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal exposure-related causes of ADHD-like problems and suggest targets for prevention or intervention for exposed teens.
How similar studies have performed: Previous findings in this Egyptian adolescent cohort and pilot mouse data have linked insecticide exposure to more ADHD-like symptoms and brain changes, but the underlying biological mechanisms and long-term effects are still not established.
Where this research is happening
Iowa City, United States
- University of Iowa — Iowa City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stevens, Hanna E — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Stevens, Hanna E
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.