Study Reveals Genetic Variations Increasing Risk of ADHD

A study published in the journal Nature Genetics claims to have discovered genetic variants increasing the risk of Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) that may help to understand the biological mechanisms in the body. origin of the disorder. as well as drug development.

People diagnosed with ADHD have trouble paying attention and controlling their impulsive behavior. Symptoms include restlessness, inability to listen when speaking directly, forgetfulness, distraction or hyperactivity.

ADHD is not just a childhood disorder. Although symptoms begin to manifest during childhood, ADHD can persist until adolescence and adulthood. The study indicates that ADHD affects about 2.5% of adults and about 5% of children worldwide.

Previous studies have suggested that ADHD may be caused by an interaction between genes and environmental or non-genetic factors, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, or drug use during pregnancy; exposure to environmental toxins, such as high levels of lead, at a young age, low birth weight, brain damage, etc.

"We know that he is highly hereditary. Of all the possible causes of ADHD, genetic factors account for 70% to 80%, "Professor Anders Børglum, co-author of the Aahus University research in Denmark, told The Guardian.

More than 55 000 people, including more than 20,000 people diagnosed with ADHD, identified 12 genome regions, which increases the risk of developing ADHD.

However, he said the changes in these 12 regions represented less of 1% of the genetic risk for the disease, Børglum explained that this was due to the fact that several genes could be involved in the disease and that the more genetic risk variants an individual had, the more he or she risked developing the disease.

The study argues that the structure of genetic variants found in people with ADHD was similar to that seen in people with other disorders. He adds that ADHD is "an extreme expression of ongoing hereditary traits".

Børglum hopes that the study could help reduce the stigma surrounding the disease by establishing the biological factors that cause the disease. "We are extremely excited about these results … we have been looking for it for centuries," he told the Guardian.

In India, a study found that the prevalence of ADHD in primary school children was 11.32%. The prevalence was higher for men (66.7%) than for women (33.3%). The prevalence among the lower socio-economic group was 16.33% and that among the average socio-economic group was 6.84%. It turned out that its highest rate was between 9 and 10 years old.

The DTE had reported another study that women using nicotine patches or other nicotine replacement products might have children at high risk for ADHD .

Since the stigma surrounding mental health in India is widespread, it is possible to treat and recognize disorders such as ADHD from an early age, to ensure appropriate and timely treatment.