At the same time, the observation that raised circulating concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, in the first 2 weeks of life of preterm infants are associated with attention difficulties at 2 years of age (142), and the correlation of executive function performance with IL-16 and IL-13 plasma levels in ADHD children (134), suggests an influence of mild chronic inflammation on the development of prefronto-subcortical connections related to attention and executive functions (143). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder.