Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci.  2026 Feb;24(1):58-66. 10.9758/cpn.25.1313.

The Role of GDNF and NSE in Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: The Relationship with Sleep and Eating

• Özmen S
• Dursun S
• Demirci E

• KMID: 2578767
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.25.1313

Abstract

Objective
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in childhood. This study aims to examine blood levels of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and neuron-specific enolase in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and to explore their relationships with sleep patterns, eating behaviors, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms.
Methods
A total of 51 patients diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and 20 healthy controls were included in the study. The Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire and Eating Behavior Assessment Scale for Children were administered. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and neuron-specific enolase levels were measured using the Bioassay Technology Laboratory Human ELISA Kit.
Results
When comparing the serum glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor levels between groups, no statistically significant difference was found in the distribution of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor levels (p = 0.645). The serum neuron-specific enolase levels in the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder group were found to be higher than the control group (p = 0.038). Correlation analysis demonstrated a negative correlation between glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor levels and total scores on the eating scale (r = −0.309, p = 0.026).
Conclusion
These results highlight the possible involvement of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the regulation of eating patterns among children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Higher serum neuron-specific enolase levels were observed as discriminative between healthy and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder children.

Keyword

Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity; Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor; Phosphopyruvate hydratase; Eating; Sleep