Study suggests that ADHD is genetic, can help lead to new treatments



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MONDAY, Nov. 26, 2018 – A new study suggests that millions of Americans with hyperactivity disorder or hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, could present a genetic vulnerability to the disease.

55,000 people and identified 12 gene regions related to ADHD. These regions probably affect the central nervous system, according to the authors of the study. This discovery could help scientists develop new treatments for ADHD that affect more than 9% of American children.

"We all carry genetic variants of ADHD risk," says researcher Anders Borglum, a professor of biomedicine at the Aarhus University in Denmark. "The more we have, the greater the risk of developing ADHD."

These same genetic areas share a link with 200 other diseases and traits, he said. The researchers also found that 44 variants of genes involved in ADHD were linked to depression, anorexia and insomnia.

"We now better understand why some people develop ADHD and begin to understand the underlying biology, paving the way for new and improved treatment for ADHD," Borglum added.

The genetic areas discovered by his team show that

The researchers also discovered that genes that can be linked to ADHD play a role in the interaction of brain cells and also affect the development of speech, l & rsquo; Learning and regulating dopamine, a chemical messenger that transmits signals. between the brain cells.

Yet the vast majority of ADHD genetics has not yet been discovered and will require further study, Borglum said.

The author of the study, Stephen Faraone, said the team "has discovered 12 of the many genes – probably thousands of genes related to ADHD – we do not know." Faraone is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York State

. Researchers do not expect to discover one, two or even ten genes that each have a significant effect on ADHD and can be used. diagnose the disorder or quickly develop a treatment, he said. Most likely, a combination of genes and environmental factors triggers ADHD, according to the authors of the study.

Environmental factors may include premature birth and underweight or developmental problems, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, said Faraone.

It is interesting to note that even though drugs work to treat ADHD, they do not target genes. that the investigators found were related to the condition. According to Faraone, none of the genes affected by the drugs were found in the badysis of genes related to ADHD.

The report was published online November 26 in the journal Nature Genetics.

Ronald Brown, Dean of the School of Health Sciences at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, said: "This is a promising investigation because it provides evidence added that ADHD is probably an inherited disease. " Brown was not involved in the study, but knew the results well.

It has been clear for years that ADHD is a family disease, he said. These findings are also important because they suggest that some effective therapies for a family member are likely to be effective for other family members diagnosed with ADHD, he added.

This study is also important because it shows that several psychological disorders are present. probably related to these genes, although no cause-and-effect relationship has been proven in the study. According to Brown, this information could help families in their prevention and early intervention efforts.

For more information

Visit the US National Institute of Mental Health for more information on ADHD.

Copyright © 2018 HealthDay.

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