What are the causes of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

No one understands what causes ADHD. There are some studies that suggest that  although many studies suggest that genetics are involved. Like many other disorders, ADHD most likely results from a combination of several different factors. In addition to genetics, researchers are looking at possible environmental factors, and are studying how injuries to the brain, social environment, and even nutrition might influence ADHD.

Genes:

There are several different studies of twins that have demonstrated that ADHD often runs in families. Researchers are studying different genes that might make people more likely to develop ADHD. Understanding which genes are involved might allow researchers to prevent the disorder prior to symptoms developing.  Knowing the genes involved may one day help researchers prevent the disorder before symptoms develop. Being able to target specific genes could lead to better treatment for ADHD.

An interesting discovery is that children with ADHD that carry a particular version of a certain gene have thinner brain tissue in the areas of the brain associated with attention. The research has shown that the difference was not permanent, and as the children got older, the brain developed a normal level of thickness. As this occurred, their ADHD symptoms also improved.

Environmental factors:

There are some studies that suggest a connection between alcohol use and smoking cigarettes during pregnancy and ADHD in children.  Also, some preschool children that were exposed to high levels of lead may be at a higher risk of developing ADHD.

Brain injuries:

There are children that have had injuries to the breain that have shown some behaviors similar to ADHD. Although, very few children with ADHD have had any traumatic injury to the brain.

Sugar:

There has been the belief that refined sugar causes ADHD or makes the symptoms worse. Additional research tends to discount this theory.

One of the studies gave children foods containing either sugar or a sugar substitute every other day. Children that got sugar showed no different behavior or learning abilities than the children that got the sugar substitute. An additional study which gave children higher than average amounts of sugar or a sugar subsitute showed the same type of results.

A very interesting study showed, children who were considered sugar-sensitive by their mothers were given the sugar substitute aspartame, also known as Nutrasweet. Even though all the children got aspartame, half of their mothers were told their children were given sugar, and the other half were told their children were given aspartame. The mothers who thought their children had gotten sugar rated them as more hyperactive than the other children and were more critical of their behavior, compared to mothers who believed their children had gottne aspartame.

Food additives:

There has been some recent research from Britian that suggests a possible link between the eating of certain food additives like artificial colors or preservatives, and an increase in activity. Additional research is being conducted to confirm the findings and to learn more about how food additives may affect hyperactivity.