Early Life Neurodevelopmental Indicators of ADHD and Autism at Age 10: A Prospective Cohort Study

Purpose Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are the two most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by early-onset impairments across multiple developmental domains, including language, motor coordination, cognition and behavioral regulation. Despite the early signs, diagnoses are often delayed, limiting opportunities for timely interventions. Evidence suggest that deviations in these domains may be predictive of later ADHD and ASD. However, findings have been inconsistent, and further clarification is needed to improve early identification. Methods This prospective study followed 590 children from the COPSAC2010 birth cohort to examine associations between neurodevelopmental measurements from birth to age 3 years and later clinical diagnoses and traits manifestations of ADHD and ASD at age 10. Early life neurodevelopment data included motor milestones, language production measured at age 12 and 24 months, cognitive functioning and behavioral/emotional observations at 36 months, as well as a general development questionnaire at 3 years. Associations were analyzed using logistic and linear regression analyses adjusted for demographic and perinatal covariates. Results We found that lower word production, shorter sentence, lower cognitive functioning and more behavioral/emotional problems in early life were significantly associated with increased risk of ADHD and elevated ADHD and ASD traits at age 10. Conclusion Deficits in language, cognitive functioning and more behavioral and emotional problems in early life could serve as risk indicators for later neurodevelopmental disorders. Recognizing these risk indicators could inform timely detection and improve developmental outcomes.