While previous research has linked genetic factors to the cause of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), there is yet to be conclusive evidence to identify the specific genes that can cause the neurodevelopmental disorder.
However, a new study out of Denmark is getting closer to identifying these specific genes and why ADHD can develop in some and not others.
The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Genetics in January, analyzed data on more than six million genetic variants in 38,691 people with ADHD and 186,843 people without the disorder. The researchers were able to identify 27 variations in the human DNA code that were most present in people with ADHD; however, they estimate there could be as many as 7,300 of these genetic variants.
The study also indicated genes linked to ADHD often have a high level of gene expression in brain tissues during the brain development stage as early on as the embryonic stage, which is between the fifth and 10th week of pregnancy.
鈥淭his emphasizes that ADHD should be seen as a brain developmental disorder, and that this is most likely influenced by genes that have a major impact on the brain鈥檚 early development,鈥 lead study author Ditte Demontis said in a
According to the , the most common symptom of ADHD is a reduction in attention span and concentration. People with ADHD can experience being hyperactive by talking excessively or being impulsive, while others can be inattentive and some can experience a combination of both. In Canada, ADHD affects an estimated 1.8 million people.
The study found that these risk genes often affect dopaminergic neurons, which play a major role in a person's behaviour, affecting their mood, stress or a variety of feelings. Researchers also combined their results with data from 4,973 people that underwent neuro-cognitive tests and found these genetic variants can be linked to a person's reduced attention span, short-term memory, and reduced reading and mathematical ability.
Amori Mikami, clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, says this study could potentially help further diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. In particular, it could help reduce the stigma behind it.
"There is a lot of stigma about ADHD in the public and I do think some of it can be due to people not believing that ADHD is a real disorder," Mikami said in a phone interview with CTVNews.ca on Thursday.
"I'm glad that these researchers are doing this genetic research because we need more science to understand the causes of ADHD."
Similar studies diving into the science of ADHD could also pave the way for more personalized medicine, she said. While treatment for ADHD varies, Mikami explains it often involves prescribed medication along with psychotherapy to help with behavioural treatment.
However, because there are , the process to find the right one can be long and frustrating since the side-effects can vary from person to person.
"For families and people with ADHD, there's so much trial and error in medication and it can be very discouraging, frustrating and time consuming," she said.
"We're still a long way from that but I do think that those are some exciting potential implications down the road."
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The RCMP is warning residents in northeast Saskatchewan to seek shelter and avoid picking up hitchhikers as police search for a group of armed and dangerous suspects.
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Donations are quickly pouring in for the family of a young woman who was found dead inside a Walmart in Halifax last weekend.
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Trash carried by a North Korean balloon fell on the presidential compound in central Seoul on Thursday, officials said, the second such case in recent months that raise concerns about the vulnerability of key South Korean sites during potential North Korean aggression.
Elon Musk's super PAC didn't announce a winner for its "daily" $1 million giveaway to registered swing state voters on Wednesday, the same day news broke that the Justice Department warned Musk鈥檚 group that its sweepstakes might be illegal.
The Israeli military has forced Palestinians to enter potentially booby-trapped houses and tunnels in Gaza to avoid putting its troops in harm鈥檚 way, according to an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier and five former detainees.
British killer nurse Lucy Letby lost her bid Thursday to challenge her conviction for the attempted murder of a baby girl in her care.
An international conference for Lebanon in Paris on Thursday raised US$1 billion in pledges for humanitarian aid and military support to help the country where war between Hezbollah militants and Israel has displaced a million people, killed over 2,500, and deepened an economic crisis, French organizers said.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said he would lead his Liberal party into the next election despite mounting unhappiness among some legislators about his performance.
Foreign Affairs Minister M茅lanie Joly is attending a conference on Lebanon as leaders try to help the country cope with the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes.
A Colorado man has filed the first lawsuit against McDonald鈥檚 relating to its E. coli outbreak linked to Quarter Pounders that, so far, has led to at least 49 illnesses across 10 states, including one death.
Radon is a radioactive gas found in nearly every Canadian home. A new research study is putting a renewed spotlight on the invisible, odourless element that is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in Canada.
At least 1,749 people have died from toxic and unregulated drugs in British Columbia since the start of the year 鈥 a rate of more than six people per day, according to the latest data from the provincial coroner's office.
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services received its first shipment of new firefighting gear on Wednesday, advancing the department's plans to reduce cancer risk for its members.
Officials in Hong Kong said Wednesday they have discovered dinosaur fossils in the city for the first time on a remote, uninhabited island that's part of a geopark.
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The imagination of Tim Burton has produced ghosts and ghouls, Martians, monsters and misfits -- all on display at an exhibition that is opening in London just in time for Halloween. But you know what really scares him? Artificial intelligence.
Beyonc茅 is expected to appear Friday in her hometown of Houston at a rally for Vice-President Kamala Harris, according to three people familiar with the matter.
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Cineplex Inc. has filed an appeal of a record $38.9-million fine for deceptive marketing practices imposed by the Competition Tribunal.
Canada's discount airline is suspending operations to and from Saskatoon.
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Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.
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Vancouver police say they鈥檙e investigating a stabbing in the city鈥檚 downtown core Thursday morning.
A University of British Columbia employee and members of the Jewish community are speaking out following a protest that targeted a campus event featuring guest speakers with ties to Israel.
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Here鈥檚 a look at some of the wild weather from around the world this past week.
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Donations are quickly pouring in for the family of a young woman who was found dead inside a Walmart in Halifax last weekend.
WorkSafeNB is investigating after a man was killed in a workplace incident at a tire shop in Moncton, N.B., last week.
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A Manitoba man who pleaded guilty to murdering his common-law partner and two children more than two years ago was sentenced Thursday.
The Manitoba government is extending its retail theft initiative.
The parents of an infant who was found to be malnourished and abused are facing charges.
Regina police says a reward of up to $50,000 is available for information that leads to the arrest of Daniel 'Juma' Drie Atem, who officers say is responsible for a murder that occurred downtown in the summer of 2023.
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A psychologist who recently assessed Geovanny Villalba-Aleman believes he may have experienced a psychotic break before stabbing three people in a gender studies class at a University of Waterloo.
Corrections Service Canada has confirmed a women鈥檚 prison in Kitchener is in lockdown.
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Federal housing minister Sean Fraser says he鈥檚 going to work directly with the cities of Saskatoon and Regina to tackle homeless encampments, after the province ignored his funding offer last month.
Sudbury police say a weapons call about a man pointing a gun at a woman in the city鈥檚 West End on Tuesday afternoon led to multiple charges.
The president and CEO of New Brunswick-based Covered Bridge Potato Chips is taking an 'extended leave of absence' after being charged with domestic violence this past weekend.
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Ineos Styrolution will not restart production at its Sarnia plant. The chemical company has been shut down since April after the nearby First Nation reported members getting sick from elevated benzene levels.
A ceremony was held inside council chambers Thursday morning, honouring London鈥檚 mayor with the first poppy of this year鈥檚 campaign.
David Musyj said the process of establishing a new board continues, stressing that it took a longtime for the hospital group to get into the situation it's in and it will take time to make things right.
A power outage left thousands of Barrie residents in the dark on Wednesday night.
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Members of Unifor Local 2458 at Clear Medical Imaging are preparing for a possible strike, as the deadline looms Thursday night.
The Windsor Police Traffic Enforcement Unit was cracking down on various driving infractions across the city on Thursday.
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Legend has it that on a dark evening in 1988, friends of Supt. Joe Atherton quietly buried his body on the site of the old provincial RCMP headquarters in Vancouver.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government is slashing immigration targets as he admits the government did not get the balance right following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.
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Nearly two years after a man was stabbed to death in downtown Kelowna, RCMP have made an arrest in the case.
A town in southern Alberta will be one of the first to let golf carts be driven on select roads as part of a provincial pilot program.
A Lethbridge recovery centre, tasked with helping residents struggling with addictions, is celebrating its first year of success in the community.
Graduate students looking to become mental-health professionals will have more opportunities to study in the University of Lethbridge鈥檚 Master of Education Counselling Psychology program.
An annual event held in Sault Ste. Marie is back for the 29th year to ensure local kids get the winter clothing they need as the temperature dips.
The lack of 24-hour public washrooms has been a long-standing issue in the Sault, especially considering the rise in homelessness.
The union representing the fire rangers with the Ministry of Natural Resources says money won鈥檛 fix the systemic problems in the workplace.
Investigators found the remains of a 77-year-old American man on Wednesday at the scene of a fire that destroyed a hotel in western Newfoundland earlier on the weekend.
Police in western Newfoundland say a 77-year-old man visiting the province from Kansas is missing after a fire at a hotel in Deer Lake, N.L.
At 2 p.m. on Thursday, the scene at the Lions Club in Clarenville, N.L., rivalled any rowdy St. John's bar that thumps with music late on a weekend night.
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