title: Allergic disease in the first year of life is associated with differences in subsequent neurodevelopment and behaviour.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent trials suggest a link between neuropsychological function, atopy and allergic disease particularly in early childhood; however the nature of this association remains unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between early allergic disease and sensitisation at 12 months of age and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Linear or binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether allergic diseases or sensitization at 12 months of age was a significant predictor of neurodevelopmental test scores at the 18 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infants with a maternal history of allergic disease (n=324).
  
  
  METHODS
  Allergic outcomes at 12 months of age included allergen sensitisation, eczema, IgE-mediated and food allergy, and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 included the Bayley Scales of Infant Toddler Development III Edition, the Achenbach Child Behaviour Checklist and the Macarthur Scales of Infant Toddler Development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with any diagnosed allergic disease at 12 months had evidence of reduced motor scores (p=.016), and this was most apparent for a diagnosis of eczema (p=.007). Non-IgE mediated food allergy was significantly positively associated with problem Internalising Behaviours (p=.010), along with a trend for effects on the Social-Emotional composite score for IgE-Mediated food allergies (p=.052). Allergic sensitisation was not independently associated with any effects on neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence that an allergic phenotype in infancy is associated with effects on neurodevelopment. Further research is required to investigate the nature of this relationship.
authors.affiliation: School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. smeldrum@meddent.uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: Suzanne J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Meldrum
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: D'Vaz
authors.forename: Janet A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dunstan
authors.forename: Trevor A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hird
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Simmer
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Prescott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D005395:Fish Oils; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils