Maternal Placenta Protein Levels Linked to Child ADHD

A study published September 23, 2026, links low third-trimester placental protein levels to higher child ADHD risk.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Pregnancy

Flat opaque gouache-painted illustration depicting a stylized, organic biological growth form, representing prenatal health and fetal development. — A University of Iowa study links lower maternal placental growth factor levels during the third trimester to an increased risk of ADHD in children. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you trust new prenatal biomarker research to guide your decisions about early childhood developmental monitoring?

A study of 176 pregnancies, published September 23, 2026, found that lower maternal levels of placental growth factor (PlGF) during the third trimester are associated with an increased risk of ADHD in children. The research, conducted using samples from a University of Iowa longitudinal biorepository, suggests that neurodevelopmental outcomes may be tied to placental health in utero.

Why it matters

Understanding the link between placental angiogenic deficits and neurodevelopment provides a new window into the early origins of childhood conditions. With ADHD affecting more than 10% of US children aged 3 to 17 years, identifying prenatal indicators could eventually help researchers understand the biological pathways of the disorder.

Researchers analyzed 176 pregnancies, consisting of 54 ADHD cases and 122 control subjects. Each 1-SD increase in third-trimester PlGF levels was associated with lower odds of ADHD, with an odds ratio of 0.38.

The players

University of Iowa

This public research university in Iowa City houses the health system and longitudinal pregnancy biorepository that provided the data for this study.

The details

The analysis focused on plasma samples from a longitudinal pregnancy biorepository, adjusting for offspring sex, preeclampsia, and fetal growth restriction. The study observed that children with ADHD also presented higher rates of speech disorders, learning disabilities, and conduct or oppositional disorders.

September 23, 2026: The study was published in JAMA Psychiatry.
September 30, 2026: University of Iowa published a report on the findings.
October 22, 2026: Article published by Contemporary Pediatrics.

Culture Shift

This study contributes to a broader scientific shift toward investigating prenatal environmental and biological factors as precursors to neurodevelopmental outcomes. It follows the methodologies of the JAMA Psychiatry longitudinal pregnancy biorepository research program.

This research provides clinical insight for expectant parents in Iowa City regarding the importance of ongoing prenatal care and monitoring. It does not currently offer a change to daily routines or specific at-home health interventions for pregnant patients.

The takeaway

This discovery highlights the complex role the placenta plays in long-term neurodevelopment during pregnancy. While promising, the findings remain a subject of active research, and scientists are currently testing these pathways through further animal studies.