| | | Cardiff University thyroid IQ theory 'could help children'
bbc.co.uk
Children at risk of developing a low IQ could be helped by genetic screening, Cardiff University researchers say.
They found youngsters with a common gene variation and lower thyroid hormone levels were four times more likely to have an IQ under 85.
The researchers believe their findings could be a step towards introducing neonatal screening to help identify children at risk.
They say the children could then be treated with standard thyroid tablets.
In all, 3,123 children aged seven had their genetic data and thyroid function examined and their IQ tested.
The research was carried out with fellow researchers at the University of Bristol.
Thyroid hormones are essential for brain development in childhood and, recently, scientists have looked at a certain enzyme, called deiodonase-2, involved in processing thyroid hormones inside cells.
A variant in the gene related to this enzyme has already been associated with diabetes and high blood pressure.
Researchers have now found children with both a common gene variant and lower thyroid hormone levels, which occur in approximately 4% of the population, were four times more likely to have an IQ under 85... |
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