Comments on: Genetics of ADHD http://www.addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/ A blog about Attention Deficit Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:12:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Polly Hastings http://www.addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/comment-page-1/#comment-550752 Polly Hastings Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:46:51 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/#comment-550752 thanks thanks

]]> By: Dr. Kenny Handelman http://www.addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/comment-page-1/#comment-548460 Dr. Kenny Handelman Wed, 31 Aug 2011 01:03:43 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/#comment-548460 Polly - I don't know that anyone has done that research... But suffice it to say that it can run in families, so that could happen. Polly – I don’t know that anyone has done that research… But suffice it to say that it can run in families, so that could happen.

]]> By: Polly Hastings http://www.addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/comment-page-1/#comment-545383 Polly Hastings Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:03:53 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/#comment-545383 What are the chances that ADHD will be passed on from genes inherited from a grandfather? In this case, the grandfather is diagnosed with ADHD. His daughter is not ADHD. What are the chances that this daughter would pass on ADHD to her child? Thank you. What are the chances that ADHD will be passed on from genes inherited from a grandfather? In this case, the grandfather is diagnosed with ADHD. His daughter is not ADHD. What are the chances that this daughter would pass on ADHD to her child? Thank you.

]]> By: J http://www.addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/comment-page-1/#comment-421101 J Wed, 18 May 2011 21:18:10 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/#comment-421101 Interesting. Thanks for posting this. Both of My Husbands parents have ADD (and have been very successful, despite having it) so it was probably very inevitable for him. Interesting to see the percentages. Interesting. Thanks for posting this. Both of My Husbands parents have ADD (and have been very successful, despite having it) so it was probably very inevitable for him. Interesting to see the percentages.

]]> By: Dr. Kenny Handelman http://www.addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/comment-page-1/#comment-409018 Dr. Kenny Handelman Thu, 05 May 2011 16:55:47 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/#comment-409018 Celeste, I can't answer that... that's a complicated problem. I would suggest that there is either someone in the family with 'traits', who never got diagnosed. Or, it could be de novo genetic changes. There is new research going on in 'CNVs' which are copy number variants. These are genetic changes that are bigger than what have been looked at in the past - i.e. 200-500 dna base pairs. For a certain percentage of people there are de novo mutations (i.e. there may be changes that aren't in the family). That's all I can say to help out. Celeste, I can’t answer that… that’s a complicated problem.
I would suggest that there is either someone in the family with ‘traits’, who never got diagnosed. Or, it could be de novo genetic changes. There is new research going on in ‘CNVs’ which are copy number variants. These are genetic changes that are bigger than what have been looked at in the past – i.e. 200-500 dna base pairs. For a certain percentage of people there are de novo mutations (i.e. there may be changes that aren’t in the family). That’s all I can say to help out.

]]> By: Celeste http://www.addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/comment-page-1/#comment-399556 Celeste Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:39:52 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/#comment-399556 My question is what is the chance that a person who has ADHD or ADD in their family who does not themselves have it yet they have two of four children who has the syndrome yet their husband does not have it nor is it carried in his family?. Would it be possible that they mated with another individual who has it? My question is what is the chance that a person who has ADHD or ADD in their family who does not themselves have it yet they have two of four children who has the syndrome yet their husband does not have it nor is it carried in his family?. Would it be possible that they mated with another individual who has it?

]]> By: Calochilus http://www.addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/comment-page-1/#comment-177587 Calochilus Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:52:08 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/#comment-177587 Hi Lizzie Your problems come about when trying to reconcile the DSM4 diagnostic criteria which are categorical (ie. you either have ADHD or you don't), with the reality of ADHD which is a dimensional problem ( meaning that ADHD issues or traits can vary from immeasurable to devastating). Not only are ADHD issues dimensional, but there are several, more or less, independent domains such as attention, distractability, impulsivity, together with various comorbid (occurring at the same time) but possibly distinct issues such as dyspraxias, central auditory processing issues and visual processing issues (the dyslexias and Irlen Syndrome, etc). If you want to get a handle (no pun intended) on this stuff, you should read John Ratey and Catherine Johnson, "Shadow Syndromes" The reality is that DSM4 deals poorly with women with ADHD as the diagnostic statistics show. One in five children diagnosed with ADHD are girls. In adulthood, the ratio is one to one. This tells me that DSM4 is missing many girls with the ADHD traits which are of minimal impact in childhood but greater impact in adulthood. (Is this because girls have greater verbal skills which mature earlier than boys?) The other reality is that the small proportion of boys with severe behavioural issues have dominated stereotypes of ADHD. 80% of ADHD kids are remarkable by their invisibility to the bulk of the population, the daydreamers, the "Walter Mittys" of this world. The others who are not un-remarked but are un-acknowledged as ADHD are the artists, musicians, mathematicians, entrepreneurs, inventors etc. who have a strong risk-taking streak in an intellectual sense. Given that you have a brother with well defined ADHD, my suspicions are that you will have ADHD traits which are a minor impediment to your progress. I also firmly believe that assortative mating is common and the chances are (in my mind) that your boyfriend will also have minor ADHD traits (which may be complementary to yours) Jump in, take the plunge, your children might well include the next Albert Einstein or Pablo Picasso. Hi Lizzie
Your problems come about when trying to reconcile the DSM4 diagnostic criteria which are categorical (ie. you either have ADHD or you don’t), with the reality of ADHD which is a dimensional problem ( meaning that ADHD issues or traits can vary from immeasurable to devastating).
Not only are ADHD issues dimensional, but there are several, more or less, independent domains such as attention, distractability, impulsivity, together with various comorbid (occurring at the same time) but possibly distinct issues such as dyspraxias, central auditory processing issues and visual processing issues (the dyslexias and Irlen Syndrome, etc). If you want to get a handle (no pun intended) on this stuff, you should read John Ratey and Catherine Johnson, “Shadow Syndromes”
The reality is that DSM4 deals poorly with women with ADHD as the diagnostic statistics show. One in five children diagnosed with ADHD are girls. In adulthood, the ratio is one to one. This tells me that DSM4 is missing many girls with the ADHD traits which are of minimal impact in childhood but greater impact in adulthood. (Is this because girls have greater verbal skills which mature earlier than boys?)
The other reality is that the small proportion of boys with severe behavioural issues have dominated stereotypes of ADHD. 80% of ADHD kids are remarkable by their invisibility to the bulk of the population, the daydreamers, the “Walter Mittys” of this world. The others who are not un-remarked but are un-acknowledged as ADHD are the artists, musicians, mathematicians, entrepreneurs, inventors etc. who have a strong risk-taking streak in an intellectual sense.
Given that you have a brother with well defined ADHD, my suspicions are that you will have ADHD traits which are a minor impediment to your progress. I also firmly believe that assortative mating is common and the chances are (in my mind) that your boyfriend will also have minor ADHD traits (which may be complementary to yours)
Jump in, take the plunge, your children might well include the next Albert Einstein or Pablo Picasso.

]]> By: Dr. Kenny Handelman http://www.addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/comment-page-1/#comment-177528 Dr. Kenny Handelman Sun, 28 Mar 2010 18:41:41 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/#comment-177528 Hi, If I understand correctly - you're wondering what the risk of having ADHD in your child if your brother has ADHD. I don't know an exact answer to that... The general population risk is 5%. With someone in the family - it would be up a little- but with an uncle - probably not that much. Dr. Kenny Hi,
If I understand correctly – you’re wondering what the risk of having ADHD in your child if your brother has ADHD. I don’t know an exact answer to that… The general population risk is 5%. With someone in the family – it would be up a little- but with an uncle – probably not that much.
Dr. Kenny

]]> By: Lizzie B http://www.addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/comment-page-1/#comment-177514 Lizzie B Sun, 28 Mar 2010 12:28:45 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/#comment-177514 Follow up question: My brother has ADHD (at the higher end of the scale) , my partner I do not, what is the chance of us having a child with ADHD? Thanks Follow up question:

My brother has ADHD (at the higher end of the scale) , my partner I do not, what is the chance of us having a child with ADHD?

Thanks

]]> By: Calochilus http://www.addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/comment-page-1/#comment-149305 Calochilus Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:24:15 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/genetics-of-adhd/#comment-149305 Much behaviour is learned, not inherited. If you want statistics, see the work of Hay and Levy, enough there to keep you reading for some time. Overall conclusion, ADHD heritabilty is between 0.8 and 0.9 See http://www.cognitivepsychologyarena.com/attention-genes-and-adhd-9781841692678 The learned aspects are more related to oppositional defiance and conduct disorder according to Barkley. However, a complicating factor that is being more widely recognised is the impact of epigenetics. See http://www.epidna.com/showabstract.php?pmid=17915085 also http://eprints.qut.edu.au/13794/ where epigenetics is explored in relation to PTSD. Martin Pall's work has shown possible links in physiological mechanisms relating to this. See also http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120120678/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 See also http://www.mdconsult.com/das/article/body/180511137-2/jorg=journal&source=&sp=N&sid=0/N/721514/1.html?issn= Happy reading Much behaviour is learned, not inherited.
If you want statistics, see the work of Hay and Levy, enough there to keep you reading for some time. Overall conclusion, ADHD heritabilty is between 0.8 and 0.9
See http://www.cognitivepsychologyarena.com/attention-genes-and-adhd-9781841692678
The learned aspects are more related to oppositional defiance and conduct disorder according to Barkley.
However, a complicating factor that is being more widely recognised is the impact of epigenetics.
See http://www.epidna.com/showabstract.php?pmid=17915085
also http://eprints.qut.edu.au/13794/ where epigenetics is explored in relation to PTSD. Martin Pall’s work has shown possible links in physiological mechanisms relating to this.
See also http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120120678/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
See also http://www.mdconsult.com/das/article/body/180511137-2/jorg=journal&source=&sp=N&sid=0/N/721514/1.html?issn=
Happy reading

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