I’ve always heard people say that ADHD is caused by “too much screen time” or kids not being disciplined enough, but after learning more about it, that honestly feels pretty inaccurate. ADHD has a real biological basis, and genetics play a huge role in it. I was reading a study that looked at thousands of people and found that ADHD is highly heritable, meaning it tends to run in families because of shared genes (Demontis et al., 2019). The researchers even identified specific genetic variants that show up more often in people with ADHD. I found that interesting because it shows that ADHD isn’t about being lazy or unmotivated. It’s rooted in how the brain is wired, and genetics shape a lot of that wiring.
What surprised me even more is how complex the genetics behind ADHD actually are. There isn’t one single “ADHD gene.” Instead, hundreds of small genetic differences each add a tiny amount of risk, and when they stack together, someone might develop ADHD. The study also pointed out overlaps between ADHD genetics and other neurodivergent traits, which made me think about how connected different conditions can be. It makes sense, though. Neurodivergence isn’t just one thing. It’s a huge spectrum with a lot of shared biology. Reading this made me appreciate how diverse brain functioning really is. ADHD doesn’t make someone “less than.” It just means their brain works differently, and that difference has roots in their DNA. I think the more people understand that, the easier it will be to move away from stereotypes and treat ADHD like the real neurological condition it is.
References
Demontis, D., Walters, R. K., Martin, J., Mattheisen, M., Als, T. D., Agerbo, E., … & Neale, B. M. (2019). Discovery of the first genome-wide significant risk loci for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Nature Genetics, 51, 63–75. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-018-0269-7
this reminds me with the holidays coming up, to say my grandmother gave the entire family ADHD. it was a running gag in the family for a few years now and everyone laughs it off, but I never thought it was a joke. I was genuinely blaming her.
ReplyDeletebut jokes aside, once you realize that neurodivergence can be due to genetics, it is really fun noticing how yours overlap with theirs. at first you notice key similarities but then you start noticing little differences. it really is my favorite game to play during the holidays.