Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is the bane of many
parents, nurseries and schools. Children who suffer from the
condition find it difficult to concentrate, and they can be
disruptive and difficult at home and in the classroom. The
argument over what causes the disorder has been raging for
decades. Many blame bad parenting, whereas others point the
finger at disorders of brain chemistry or hormonal disturbances
in the womb. But research that has just been published in the
Lancet claims to have found the answer: it's all down to genes.
The study, headed by Professor Anita Thapar from Cardiff
University, examined 366 children with ADHD and 1,047 in a
control group. They searched for mutations that occur when a
chunk of DNA is either duplicated or deleted. The study found
these in 14% of children with ADHD, but only 7% of the controls.
The Lancet press release claimed that the study "is the first to
find direct evidence that ADHD is a genetic disorder". Thapar
stated: "Now we can say with confidence tha