new study shows ADHD during childhood leads to a considerably greater risk of starting to smoke early, and then becoming long-term heavy smokers. Scientists concentrated on five variations in DNA sequences in various genes that are closely linked to smoking behaviors. Blood samples were taken from the children, parents, brothers and sisters to determine who had high risk variants (alleles) of the five genetic markers that may have been passed on. One of the five risk variations in DNA sequences, rs 1329650, which was linked to how much people smoke, was more likely to be associated with ADHD. The high risk C allele of rs 1329650 was significantly more likely to be passed on from parents and to be associated with the more severe form of ADHD. The inherited risk allele was more common in the kids who performed poorly on tasks requiring brain power and concentration. Contrary to previous studies, they found that mothers who smoked during pregnancy were no more likely to give birth to babies with inherited risk allele than the non- smoking mothers, suggesting that secondhand smoking does not alter the risk allele.Saturday, November 24, 2012
Genetic link to smoking and ADHD
According to Medical News Today, a new study shows ADHD during childhood leads to a considerably greater risk of starting to smoke early, and then becoming long-term heavy smokers. Scientists concentrated on five variations in DNA sequences in various genes that are closely linked to smoking behaviors. Blood samples were taken from the children, parents, brothers and sisters to determine who had high risk variants (alleles) of the five genetic markers that may have been passed on. One of the five risk variations in DNA sequences, rs 1329650, which was linked to how much people smoke, was more likely to be associated with ADHD. The high risk C allele of rs 1329650 was significantly more likely to be passed on from parents and to be associated with the more severe form of ADHD. The inherited risk allele was more common in the kids who performed poorly on tasks requiring brain power and concentration. Contrary to previous studies, they found that mothers who smoked during pregnancy were no more likely to give birth to babies with inherited risk allele than the non- smoking mothers, suggesting that secondhand smoking does not alter the risk allele.
new study shows ADHD during childhood leads to a considerably greater risk of starting to smoke early, and then becoming long-term heavy smokers. Scientists concentrated on five variations in DNA sequences in various genes that are closely linked to smoking behaviors. Blood samples were taken from the children, parents, brothers and sisters to determine who had high risk variants (alleles) of the five genetic markers that may have been passed on. One of the five risk variations in DNA sequences, rs 1329650, which was linked to how much people smoke, was more likely to be associated with ADHD. The high risk C allele of rs 1329650 was significantly more likely to be passed on from parents and to be associated with the more severe form of ADHD. The inherited risk allele was more common in the kids who performed poorly on tasks requiring brain power and concentration. Contrary to previous studies, they found that mothers who smoked during pregnancy were no more likely to give birth to babies with inherited risk allele than the non- smoking mothers, suggesting that secondhand smoking does not alter the risk allele.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Interesting post, was there any information as to whether there would be a higher risk in children who already live in homes where there were heavy smokers? This also makes me curious as to whether ADHD in childhood would lead to other kinds of addictive behavior besides smoking.
ReplyDelete