Skip to main content

ADHD and DNA

ADHD and DNA: International study sheds light on genetics


Rare genetic changes that are spontaneous—and not inherited from parents—may contribute to the underpinnings of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new study from Yale School of Medicine.

While common genetic changes have been found to have an important role in the onset of ADHD through prior research on deoxyribonucleic acid—commonly known as DNA, a molecule in the body containing genetic information that is typically inherited—researchers from the Yale Child Study Center (YCSC) and Yale Department of Psychiatry demonstrate that rare de novo (spontaneous) genetic changes in the DNA code can contribute to the genetic underpinnings of this common childhood-onset disorder.

Led by clinicians who inform their clinical practice through scientific research—and vice versa—the study also identified a risk gene for ADHD that has previously been identified as a risk gene for autism spectrum disorder. Additionally, study data indicate that there are an estimated one thousand genes underlying risk for ADHD that have not yet been identified.

These findings provide new insight into and understanding of the biology of ADHD, while also demonstrating the potential of DNA sequencing in larger cohorts to uncover additional risk genes. This, in turn, has implications for the development of more effective treatments and interventions for this common neurodevelopmental condition.

YCSC Assistant Professor Emily Olfson was the lead author of this collaborative study, published in July in the journal Nature Communications. Olfson also serves as a practicing child psychiatrist in the YCSC Specialty Clinic for Tic Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and ADHD."Dr. Olfson is an early-career physician-scientist who led the analyses and writing of this groundbreaking project, which was published in a high-impact journal—a notable achievement," said Thomas Fernandez, a co-author of the study who serves as a practicing psychiatrist in addition to his role of vice chair for research at the YCSC.

Given Olfson's ongoing clinical practice, Fernandez added, "this work was a true 'bedside-to-bench' undertaking."

Study analyses were conducted on de-identified genetic data from an international sample of 152 parent–child trios, each comprised of a child meeting criteria for an ADHD diagnosis and both biological parents. Data came from four sites: the University of São Paulo School of Medicine, the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Florida International University, and the Genizon biobank from Génome Québec.

This international collaboration, including the integration of case-control data from a large independent dataset, significantly enhanced the study and offered an important contribution to understanding the complexities of ADHD and other neurodevelopmental conditions, the authors noted.

"Our journey began with a fundamental question about the genetic underpinnings of ADHD," explained the study authors in a blog post about the paper. "While genome-wide association studies have identified common genetic variants associated with ADHD, these only account for a small portion of the disorder's heritability. We were particularly interested in exploring the role of rare genetic variation in ADHD risk."

About the findings, the authors added, "We realized their potential impact extends beyond just ADHD. Our study adds to the growing evidence of shared genetic risk factors across various neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. This suggests that these conditions, while clinically distinct, may have overlapping biological underpinnings."

ADHD, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, neurodevelopmental disorder, inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, genetic factors, DNA, genes, neurotransmitters, brain regions, attention, behavior regulation, DNA markers, diagnosis, treatment, genetics, personalized medicine, management strategies, research,

#ADHD, #AttentionDisorder, #Hyperactivity, #Impulsivity, #Genetics, #DNA, #Neurodevelopmental, #Neurotransmitters, #BrainFunction, #BehaviorRegulation, #DNAMarkers, #Diagnosis, #Treatment, #GeneticResearch, #PersonalizedMedicine, #ADHDAwareness, #GeneticFactors, #MentalHealth, #ADHDResearch, #BehaviorManagement

International Conference on Genetics and Genomics of Diseases

Visit: genetics-conferences.healthcarek.com
Award Nomination: genetics-conferences.healthcarek.com/award-nomination/?ecategory=Awards&rcategory=Awardee
Award registration: genetics-conferences.healthcarek.com/award-registration/
For Enquiries: genetics@healthcarek.com
 Get Connected Here
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
in.pinterest.com/Dorita0211
twitter.com/Dorita_02_11_
facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555903296992
instagram.com/p/C4ukfcOsK36
tumblr.com/blog/dorita0211
genetics-awards.blogspot.com/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Genetic factors with clinical trial stoppage

Genetic factors associated with reasons for clinical trial stoppage Many drug discovery projects are started but few progress fully through clinical trials to approval. Previous work has shown that human genetics support for the therapeutic hypothesis increases the chance of trial progression. Here, we applied natural language processing to classify the free-text reasons for 28,561 clinical trials that stopped before their endpoints were met. We then evaluated these classes in light of the underlying evidence for the therapeutic hypothesis and target properties. We found that trials are more likely to stop because of a lack of efficacy in the absence of strong genetic evidence from human populations or genetically modified animal models. Furthermore, certain trials are more likely to stop for safety reasons if the drug target gene is highly constrained in human populations and if the gene is broadly expressed across tissues. These results support the growing use of human genetics to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Post-Stroke Cardiovascular risks

Study finds genetic factors key to post-stroke cardiovascular risks In a recent study published in the journal Stroke , researchers identify genetic and molecular risk factors for subsequent cardiovascular outcomes after incident stroke in an effort to identify potential therapeutic targets to improve patient prognoses. Identifying the causes of stroke Stroke is a major global health issue that causes significant disability and mortality, particularly arterial ischemic stroke (AIS). AIS, which is a type of stroke caused by blocked blood flow to the brain, is responsible for up to 85% of stroke cases. AIS arises due to cerebral blood vessel blockage, with modifiable risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, atrial fibrillation, obesity, and lifestyle behaviors. Although genome-wide association studies (GWAS) often focus on incident strokes, studying subsequent events can provide new insights into stroke progression. Further research is crucial to identify genetic and...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fruitful innovation

Fruitful innovation: Transforming watermelon genetics with advanced base editors The development of new adenine base editors (ABE) and adenine-to-thymine/ guanine base editors (AKBE) is transforming watermelon genetic engineering. These innovative tools enable precise A:T-to-G and A:T-to-T base substitutions, allowing for targeted genetic modifications. The research highlights the efficiency of these editors in generating specific mutations, such as a flowerless phenotype in ClFT (Y84H) mutant plants. This advancement not only enhances the understanding of gene function but also significantly improves molecular breeding, paving the way for more efficient watermelon crop improvement. Traditional breeding methods for watermelon often face challenges in achieving desired genetic traits efficiently and accurately. While CRISPR/Cas9 has provided a powerful tool for genome editing, its precision and scope are sometimes limited. These limitations highlight the need for more advanced gene-e...
Post a Comment
Read more