Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( Adhd )

Dr. Thomas Barkley provides a counter argument about why ADHD is not human evolution. In an interview conducted on him by Thom Hartmann about whether or not ADHD is evolutionary. Dr. Thomas Barkley proposes that we do not know enough about ADHD to conclude that ADHD is a product of human evolution. Dr. Barkley states that just because people afflicted with ADHD can be successful you cannot correlate ADHD with success. Barkley states “Ulysses S. Grant was a great general because he drank” (ADHD Disorder or Difference). In his interview Dr. Thomas Barkley fails to state any scientific evidence to back his claims up. To defend his argument, Dr. Thomas Barkley states we do not know enough about psychology to firmly state ADHD is a result of evolution and when we know enough about ADHD, we will be able to state that ADHD is not caused by Human evolution. Thomas Barkley does not disprove any articles or studies of psychologists such as Elaine Morgan’s Descent of women, he merely states that we do not know enough about Psychology to say ADHD isn’t

Not all ADHD conditions are created equal. There are actually two ADHD types and another that combines them to make a third type.

In order to come up with this cause, researchers had to use family, twin, and adoption studies to observe whether heredity can be a cause of ADHD. Family and twin studies estimated about 70-80% of high heritability. According to Franke B (2012), “ADHD may be greater among first-degree probands with ADHD that persist into adolescence and adulthood.” This means that if your mother or father has ADHD it is much likely for the offspring to inherit ADHD as well. Also, adoption studies have found that ADHD is transmitted through only biological relatives which indicates that genetics can play a role in developing this disorder (Franke, 2012).

ADHD is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain of a chemical called dopamine.

Teratogenic factors also contribute to the development of ADHD. A child 's exposure to smoke and alcohol while in the womb has an increased risk of developing ADHD. As I stated earlier genetics is important in the transmission of ADHD to offspring with a 92% incidence in monozygotic twins and a 33% in dizygotic, but a specific marker has not been associated with the disorder (Valente, 2001). Parents with ADHD have an increased risk of transferring the disorder to their children. Parents with both ADHD and substance abuse disorders have the highest rate of children diagnosed with ADHD (Salmeron 2009.)

Once a person or their loved one is diagnosed with ADHD, the following questions usually follow. How did we get Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder? Did I cause it or was I born with it? Can cure it? Unfortunately, the causes and risks for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder are not clear. There are strong links to genetic pre-dispositions, which was found in studies done on twins

These names are as varied as the many factors proposed as cuses. Along with the recent insights into the role of genetics and neurobiology in ADHD, today it’s known that ADHD is not exclusive to children and can easily persist into adulthood.”

ADHD is a controversial topic for many people and seems to be an epidemic in the U.S. This partially stems from the idea of having perfect children. Some parents

DNA contains the genetic information that makes us who we are, from our genotype to our phenotype. Our genetic makeup can contribute to our behaviour and so much more. However, because we are very complex beings the ways in which our genes contribute to our behaviour also works in a complex manner (Nelson & Israel, 2015). Numerous studies have been conducted to examine the correlation between genetics and behavioral disorders such as ADHD. The purpose of this essay is to examine the role genetics plays in the development of ADHD, the ways in which ADHD can affect development, and the importance of understanding that ADHD has a dimensional nature of diagnosis and works in a continuum.

With regard to genetic studies, research has demonstrated the fact that genetic influences are involved. Family studies, molecular genetics, and twin studies have explained the familial nature of ADHD. Regarding family studies, there is a high probability of a child being diagnosed with the disorder if the siblings or parents are also affected. In addition, about 33.3% of fathers who in their childhood had ADHD are likely to bear children who have the disorder. This is an indication that among first degree relatives of affected parents or siblings, there is a 6-8X risk of an ADHD relative to the prevalence of ADHD in the general population.

Eisenberg & Esser 1997; Moghadm & Fagan, 1994 have stated ADHD has gone through a series of names since it was first documented in 1845 including “restless syndrome,” “minimal brain dysfunction,” and “hyperkinetic reaction disorder.” “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has become the most widely diagnosed psychiatric condition among children in the United States (Glass, 2001).” The CDC’s website digs deep for evidence being presented while gaining emotional appeal for its credibility as a government agency.

In my cases I come from a long line of those with ADHD, but I was diagnosed as having ADD, which as far as symptoms go the opposite of each other. Yet, when learning more about the condition I learned that many, myself included fit into the nongenetic causes as well. Our text describes those factors as including “prenatal and perinatal factors, allergies, and thyroid disorders” (72).

In regards to risk factors, there are many factors that can contribute to ADHD such as genes, smoking, alcohol, or drug use and exposure to environmental toxins during pregnancy, exposure to environmental toxins at a young age, low birth weight, and brain injuries. ADHD is also more common in males than in females. Females who suffer with the disorder are more likely to have inattention

Genetics play a strong role in the development of ADHD. Rief (2005) suggests that in about eighty percent of children diagnosed with ADHD, a family member, usually a parent or a twin suffers from ADHD as well (p. 17). The arrangement of two specific genes is thought to be involved in ADHD. DAT1 is responsible for the transport of dopamine, and DRD4 is involved in the reception of dopamine in the body. Studies show that seventy percent of children having a resistance to thyroid hormones, or having a family history of thyroid disease, also have

Genetic risk when passed on from parents is known as inherited risk/liability; not all genetic risks are necessarily inherited. First degree relatives of those with ADHD are two to eight times more likely than relatives of unaffected individuals to also show ADHD.”(Thapar, Cooper, Eyre, Langley, 2013) Researchers are studying many different genes that may be more likely to contribute to people developing the disorder. If you know the genes involved then maybe one day researchers may be able to help prevent the disorder before any symptoms develop. If we learn more about specific genes it could lead to better treatment plans.