Scientists from Cardiff University claim to have found the first direct evidence of a genetic link to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study published in The Lancet on 30 September 2010.
The study of 366 children who had been diagnosed with ADHD, has led researchers to believe that the disorder is a brain condition and not the fault of bad parenting or diet. They stressed that there is no single gene behind ADHD, but they hope that the study will help unravel the biological basis of ADHD.
Professor Anita Thapar said: "We found that, compared with the control group, the children with ADHD have a much higher rate of chunks of DNA that are either duplicated or missing. This is really exciting – because it gives us the first direct genetic link to ADHD. We have looked at lots of potential risk factors in the environment - such as parenting or what happens before birth – but there isn't the evidence to say they're linked to ADHD. There's a lot of public misunderstanding about ADHD. Some people say it's not a real disorder, or that it's the result of bad parenting. Finding this direct link should address the issue of stigma."
At least 2% of children in the UK are thought to have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The study has come under criticism by mental health professionals, arguing that ADHD is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Child psychologist Oliver James told the BBC: "These findings have been hyped in the most outrageous fashion."
Read the full story on the BBC News website
Read the original report in The Lancet