ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a common brain condition that often runs in families.
Scientists have known for a while that many tiny genetic changes—each with a small effect—can slightly increase a person’s chance of developing ADHD.
But now, a new international study led by researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark has found that some rare genetic changes may have a much bigger impact.
The study, published in the journal Nature, shows that rare variants in three specific genes—MAP1A, ANO8, and ANK2—can raise the risk of having ADHD by up to 15 times. These variants are extremely uncommon, but when they do appear, they seem to strongly affect how nerve cells in the brain develop and communicate.
According to Professor Anders Børglum, the senior author of the study, this is the first time researchers have been able to point to exact genes where rare changes lead to a high chance of developing ADHD.
These changes are believed to be very harmful to the normal function of the genes involved, offering new insights into how ADHD might start at the biological level.
By combining genetic data with information about how genes behave in different brain cells, the scientists discovered that these rare variants have a big impact on dopaminergic and GABAergic neurons.
These types of nerve cells help control attention, behavior, and motivation—all areas that are affected in people with ADHD. The effects of these genetic variants can begin during fetal development and last throughout a person’s life.
The researchers also studied how these gene changes interact with proteins in the brain. They found that the proteins affected by these genes are part of a larger network that also plays a role in other mental health conditions, such as autism and schizophrenia.
This means that these rare gene changes might be important not just for ADHD, but for understanding brain disorders in general.
The impact of these rare genetic variants goes beyond just increasing the risk for ADHD. When researchers looked at national data in Denmark, they found that people with ADHD who carry these rare variants tend to face more challenges in life.
On average, they had lower IQ scores, less education, and more difficulty finding stable jobs. Each rare variant was linked to an IQ drop of about 2.25 points.
Postdoctoral researcher Jinjie Duan, one of the lead authors of the study, explained that people with ADHD caused by these rare genetic changes may deal with more serious thinking and learning problems, which can affect their education and career.
Professor Børglum emphasized that this is just the beginning. The study opens new doors for future research and treatment.
By identifying the exact genes and biological processes involved, scientists can now start working on deeper studies to understand how these gene changes lead to ADHD. This could eventually lead to new treatments that target the root causes of the condition.
Duan added that many more rare variants likely exist and could be found in larger studies. In fact, this study has already found 17 more genes with rare changes that are very likely connected to ADHD.
In conclusion, this research provides strong evidence that rare but powerful genetic changes can significantly increase the risk of ADHD and affect how people with the condition perform in school and work. These findings not only deepen our understanding of ADHD but also point toward new ways to diagnose and treat it in the future.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about 6 foods you can eat to improve mental health, and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and results showing Omega-3 fats may help reduce depression.
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