Watching a child tear around a room, unable to sit still for more than a few seconds, an outsider might be inclined to blame their upbringing.
Parents of these seemingly uncontrollable children have grown used to rolled eyes, tuts and nasty comments from disapproving passers-by. And when such children were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, some saw it as an excuse for bad behaviour and bad parenting. But new research has linked ADHD firmly to genetics.
The study, led by Professor Anita Thapar at Cardiff University, found children with ADHD are twice as likely to have bits of genes either missing or duplicated. And those with ADHD and learning difficulties are six times more likely to have these gene variations. That gene area has also been linked with schizophrenia and autism.
So for the first time a significant link between genetic abnormalities and ADHD has been proved. At last parents can show there is a reason their child is misbehaving and experts can start looking for effective treatments.
Read more: [url]http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health-news/2010/10/08/adhd-what-every-parent-needs-to-know-115875-22617381/#ixzz11m7qEdtO[/URL]
Parents of these seemingly uncontrollable children have grown used to rolled eyes, tuts and nasty comments from disapproving passers-by. And when such children were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, some saw it as an excuse for bad behaviour and bad parenting. But new research has linked ADHD firmly to genetics.
The study, led by Professor Anita Thapar at Cardiff University, found children with ADHD are twice as likely to have bits of genes either missing or duplicated. And those with ADHD and learning difficulties are six times more likely to have these gene variations. That gene area has also been linked with schizophrenia and autism.
So for the first time a significant link between genetic abnormalities and ADHD has been proved. At last parents can show there is a reason their child is misbehaving and experts can start looking for effective treatments.
Read more: [url]http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health-news/2010/10/08/adhd-what-every-parent-needs-to-know-115875-22617381/#ixzz11m7qEdtO[/URL]