Genetics are root cause of ADHD

Genetics are the root cause of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder according to new research out of Oxford University.

According the study from England, "the genetic and environmental mediation of continuity and change in parent-reported attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms were investigated in a cohort of over 6000 twin pairs at 2, 3 and 4 years of age."

"what is stable for ADHD symptoms is largely genetic. Contrast effects acting in the same direction at different ages contributed to the observed continuity: longitudinal correlations were greater for dizygotic than monozygotic twins," scientists indicated.

Price and colleagues published the results of their research in Behavior Genetics (Continuity and change in preschool ADHD symptoms: Longitudinal genetic analysis with contrast effects. Behav Genet, 2005;35(2):121-132).