Background Studies have shown that klotho, a neuroprotective protein, plays a crucial role in neurodevelopment. However, its association with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder, remains uncertain. Aims To elucidate klotho levels in adolescents with ADHD and to clarify its association with executive function. Method The present study enrolled 92 adolescents (mean approximate age 14 years) diagnosed with ADHD and 80 age-matched healthy adolescents. All participants had their klotho levels measured and underwent the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST); their parents fulfilled the Swanson, Nolan and Pelham IV (SNAP-IV) scale and the Child Behavior Checklist-Dysregulation Profile (CBCL-DP). Results Results from generalised linear models (GLMs), with adjustments for age, gender, body mass index, clinical symptoms (SNAP-IV and CBCL-DP scores) and ADHD medication use, indicated that adolescents with ADHD had significantly lower klotho levels ( P = 0.044) and performed worse on WCST ( P = 0.027) compared with healthy adolescents. The GLMs further indicated a negative association between klotho levels and the percentage of non-perseverative errors on WCST ( P = 0.002). Conclusions Klotho may serve as a novel biomarker of ADHD and play a key role in ADHD-related executive dysfunction.
Chen et al. (Mon,) studied this question.