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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0International Journal of Molecular Sciences

The Interplay Between Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Emerging Evidence, Mechanistic Insights, and Clinical Implications

  • Xiaoya Ma1
  • Zhuo Chen1
  • Alexander Anstey2
  • Pengjie Wan1,3
  • Dan Deng1
  1. 1Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
  2. 2Department of Dermatology, Musgrove Park Hospital, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Taunton TA1 5DA, UK
  3. 3Allergy and Immunology Diagnostic and Treatment Center, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
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Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease in children and is increasingly recognized as a systemic disorder with potential consequences beyond the skin. Growing evidence links pediatric AD to neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the mechanisms and clinical implications remain incompletely understood. Systemic and neuroimmune inflammation, altered T-helper-cell and cytokine signaling, and genetic and epigenetic susceptibility may contribute to this association. Sleep disruption and psychosocial stress represent additional potential pathways linking skin inflammation with neurodevelopment. Stronger associations have been reported in children with severe or early-onset AD, multiple atopic comorbidities, and persistent sleep disturbance, highlighting the importance of disease heterogeneity. This narrative review integrates epidemiologic evidence and proposed mechanisms to examine the skin–brain axis in pediatric AD, with particular attention to high-risk phenotypes and implications for developmental surveillance and multidisciplinary management. Although current evidence supports an association, causality remains uncertain. Prospective studies integrating AD phenotypes, biomarkers, and neurodevelopmental assessments are needed to clarify these relationships and determine whether early effective AD treatment can modify long-term neurodevelopmental trajectories.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{ma2026interplay,
  title = {{The Interplay Between Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Emerging Evidence, Mechanistic Insights, and Clinical Implications}},
  author = {Xiaoya Ma and Zhuo Chen and Alexander Anstey and Pengjie Wan and Dan Deng},
  journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/ijms27209270},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9270},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - The Interplay Between Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Emerging Evidence, Mechanistic Insights, and Clinical Implications
AU  - Xiaoya Ma
AU  - Zhuo Chen
AU  - Alexander Anstey
AU  - Pengjie Wan
AU  - Dan Deng
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO  - 10.3390/ijms27209270
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9270
AB  - Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease in children and is increasingly recognized as a systemic disorder with potential consequences beyond the skin. Growing evidence links pediatric AD to neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the mechanisms and clinical implications remain incompletely understood. Systemic and neuroimmune inflammation, altered T-helper-cell and cytokine signaling, and genetic and epigenetic susceptibility may contribute to this association. Sleep disruption and psychosocial stress represent additional potential pathways linking skin inflammation with neurodevelopment. Stronger associations have been reported in children with severe or early-onset AD, multiple atopic comorbidities, and persistent sleep disturbance, highlighting the importance of disease heterogeneity. This narrative review integrates epidemiologic evidence and proposed mechanisms to examine the skin–brain axis in pediatric AD, with particular attention to high-risk phenotypes and implications for developmental surveillance and multidisciplinary management. Although current evidence supports an association, causality remains uncertain. Prospective studies integrating AD phenotypes, biomarkers, and neurodevelopmental assessments are needed to clarify these relationships and determine whether early effective AD treatment can modify long-term neurodevelopmental trajectories.
SN  - 1422-0067
ER  -