Kids with autism and ADHD have very different immune fingerprints. A new meta-analysis of 74 studies found that ASD is linked to elevated inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 and CRP, while ADHD is associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers like TNF-α. The findings suggest immune dysregulation plays distinct — and potentially diagnosable — roles in each condition.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD are both neurodevelopmental conditions, but a new study suggests their immune system signatures couldn't be more different. A systematic review and network meta-analysis published in European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry analyzed data from 74 studies and over 10,000 participants to map out how inflammatory markers vary across ASD, ADHD, and healthy controls.
Children with ASD showed significantly elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines — including IL-6, CRP, IL-1β, BDNF, and IL-8 — compared to controls. In contrast, kids with ADHD had lower concentrations of TNF-α, MCP-1, and IL-2. When ASD and ADHD were compared directly, the ASD group had notably higher levels across multiple inflammatory markers, reinforcing that these are biologically distinct conditions despite overlapping behavioral features.
Key Takeaways
Why it matters: Understanding the distinct immune profiles of ASD and ADHD could open doors to biomarker-based diagnostics and targeted immunological therapies — a meaningful step forward for conditions that currently rely solely on behavioral assessment.
