A global team of researchers has found the first common genetic risk factors associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a complex condition affecting around 1 in 20 children.
Professor Anita Thapar, from Cardiff University, who leads an ADHD research group as part of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, said: “This study marks a very important step in beginning to understand the genetic and biological underpinnings of ADHD.
“The genetic risk variants related to this condition play a significant role in brain-related and other core biological processes. The next step is to determine the exact role of these genes in ADHD to help us inform better treatments to support those affected by the condition.”
The team analysed genetic information from over 20,000 people affected with ADHD and over 35,000 people without the condition, the largest genetic study of ADHD to date.
Dr Joanna Martin, a research associate based at Cardiff University’s MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, said: “We identified 12 genomic regions at which people with ADHD differed compared to unaffected individuals, and several of these regions are in or near genes with a known relationship to biological processes involved in healthy brain development.”
Further analyses showed that genetic risk for ADHD is shared with risk for other psychiatric and physical disorders, including depression, obesity, type 2 diabetes and lower levels of “good” HDL cholesterol.
The researchers also found that diagnosed ADHD appears to share much of the same genetic background as the traits of ADHD, like inattention and fidgetiness, that can be measured in the general population. Working with the Early Genetics and Lifecourse Epidemiology Consortium (EAGLE), and researchers at Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR), they compared the genetic risk for diagnosed ADHD with genetic markers associated with traits of ADHD in over 20,000 children and found a high correlation between the two, at around 97%.
The correlation between these rather different definitions of ADHD suggests that clinically diagnosed ADHD may be the severe end of a continuous distribution of symptoms in the general population.
Joanna Martin, Research Associate, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences
The collaboration consisted of European, North American and Chinese research groups that are part of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC), as well as researchers from the Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research (iPSYCH) in Denmark.
Professor Anita Thapar said: “This is a landmark study because it involves patients from all over the world. This large number of patient samples has been lacking for ADHD, meaning our understanding of ADHD genetics has lagged behind physical disorders and other psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and depression. Thanks in large part to Denmark, this is beginning to change.
“Every person with ADHD who has participated in research is making a real difference to advancing our understanding of the condition, and we hope this study leads to higher levels of participation and a greater interest from the UK in supporting ADHD research.”
Although the 12 genomic signals identified in this study are important, they capture only a very small amount of the risk for ADHD. Collectively, common genetic factors accounted for approximately 22% of the risk of ADHD. The role of other sources of genetic risk, for example, rarer genetic changes, as well as environmental factors will also be important to examine in future research studies.
The study ‘Discovery of the First Genome-Wide Significant Risk Loci for ADHD’ is published in Nature Genetics.
The Latest on: ADHD
[google_news title=”” keyword=”ADHD” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: ADHD
- Inside Emily Skye's adult ADHD diagnosison April 27, 2024 at 11:30 pm
Skye never felt like she belonged. Image: Jamie Green When Skye was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) earlier this year, at age 39, her life suddenly made sense. She ...
- Suzanne Shaw on how her perimenopause symptoms exacerbated her ADHD: ‘Hormonal changes have sent it to another level’on April 27, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Following a diagnosis of ADHD earlier this year, former Hear'Say singer and soap star Suzanne Shaw believes her symptoms have been heightened by the hormonal changes that come with perimenopause. The ...
- 5 Possible Signs of ADHD in Adultson April 26, 2024 at 9:41 am
Although scientists aren’t entirely sure what causes ADHD, research suggests genetics plays a pretty big role. “It’s highly inheritable,” Dr. Vitulano explains. The disorder can show up in three major ...
- Plumber credits ultra detailed paintings to ADHDon April 26, 2024 at 8:23 am
A plumber who has won praise for his extremely detailed paintings has said he was empowered by his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis. Pete Harrington from Bridgnorth, ...
- How I Found Out My Childhood Struggles Were Actually Signs of ADHDon April 26, 2024 at 7:00 am
Throughout my life, my relationship with education was a complicated one, to say the least. It wasn't that I was flunking, but I always felt like I was clinging on by my fingertips. It was demanding, ...
- ADHD medication shortage: Patient was left 'searching for supplies'on April 25, 2024 at 10:02 pm
The government said some issues to improve the supply of ADHD medications have been resolved. Mr Minkley, 33, said not being able to get hold of medication left him looking for alternative supplies ...
- How ADHD medicines work – and the side effects to look out foron April 25, 2024 at 2:00 am
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) causes persistent symptoms of restlessness, concentration problems and impulsive behaviour. “I call it the ‘hungry brain’”, says Dr Max Davie, a ...
- What are the core ADHD symptoms?on April 25, 2024 at 12:00 am
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition. It affects the way the brain functions. Symptoms exist on a spectrum of severity ranging from mild to severe and ...
- It Took Me Months To Get the ADHD Meds the DEA Says Are Overprescribedon April 23, 2024 at 6:05 pm
The DEA says prescription stimulants could be the next opioid epidemic. Translation: People with ADHD should brace for awful new regulations.
- One million children to claim disability benefits amid surge in autism and ADHDon April 23, 2024 at 8:35 am
Almost a million children will be claiming health benefits by the end of the decade amid a surge in reported autism and ADHD cases among boys, official forecasts show.
via Bing News