theADHDdoc.com - Your guide to medications and complementary and alternative treatments for ADD & ADHD.

Your guide to medications and complementary and alternative treatments for ADD & ADHD.

Lesson 2: Parenting Doesn't Cause ADHD, Genes Do!

During the past twenty years, genetic studies have indicated that ADHD is a highly "heritable" condition. Studies of twins indicate that if one "identical twin" has ADHD, 75% of the other twin will also have the condition. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to have children with ADHD (over 55% have at least one). If you have a brother or sister with ADHD, the risk that you will have it increases from approximately 5% to 33%.

Genetic studies have also revealed abnormalities in regions of specific chromosomes (e.g. Chromosome 11) that are involved in the development of dopamine receptors and reuptake transporters. P.E.T. studies examining the activity of these structures have suggested that patients diagnosed with ADHD have "reuptake" transporters that appear to reabsorb too much dopamine (about 70% more) and have receptors that absorb dopamine too slowly (about 16%). This translates to less activation of the neural pathways that help us attend, concentrate, control our emotions, remain still (when needed) and understand "cause and effect" relationships. Scientists wonder if these inherited traits are responsible for the underactivity that has been recorded in the frontal lobes and other regions of the brains of patients with ADHD.