ADHD and genetic link to DNA?

September 29 2010 - possible link of ADHD and genetics

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are twice as likely to have a missing chromosome or extra chromosomes when compared to normal children. This is the first evidence that the disorder is genetic.

There has been a study done where British researchers compared the genomes of 366 white British children from 5 to 17 years old with ADHD, to those of more than 1,000 similar children without the ADHD disorder. This study focused on a sequence of genes linked to brain development that has previously been connected to conditions like schizophrenia and autism.

The results are that in children without ADHD, about 7% of them had deleted or doubled chromosomes in the analyzed gene sequence. When compared to children with the disorder there is 14% with these genetic alterations.

There are some limitations to this study. The children were all of European Caucasian descent. There are millions of children around the world that are affected by ADHD.

In the U.S. it is estimated that ADHD affects from 3-5% of school-age children.

It is felt that environment may affect the brain and factors like upbringing may also play a role in the condition developing. At this point it is all research. There is no plan on being able to correct ADHD in the near future.

This is another good reason to consider life insurance for a very young child. You do not know what physical conditions may develop later on in life and now your child is either uninsurable or paying high rates for minimal life insurance.

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