Is ADHD Evolution?

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD, is the lifespan neurodevelopment disorder, that symptomizes of inattentiveness, impulsiveness, forgetfulness, distractibility and hyperactivity and is highly heritable and this heritable disorder has been transition, or a process that events throughout the lifespan should not affected it, into adulthood (Swift, Sayal, & Hollis, (2014); Ertekin, et. al.,). Often, adults with ADHD also experience a negative effect on socio-personal adaptation (Miranda et al., 2014). Young adults with ADHD fall I not the category between Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, also known as CAMHS, and Adult Mental Health Service, or AMHS: it is possible that ADHD in adults is not recognizable

ADHD is indeed a part of the Western Culture. People are familiar with the term, treatment and some behaviors that ‘shows’ its existence; and since it has become part of the culture itself it is considered as something relatively normal -or at least common. Both sides of the debate agree on the fact that the behaviors called ADHD do exist, but is it a biological disease? A conduct disorder? Or are we as humans trying to narrow our behaviors in the way where anyone who is not as ‘efficient’ as us are considered to be ‘sick’?

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.

In order to back her claim Tremblay cites another research psychologist’s research, Dr. Elaine Morgan’s Descent of Woman, who proposes the wader theory for why ADHD could have actually helped early humans. In Elaine Morgan’s research article published in 1972 (Descent of Woman), Morgan proposes “ADHD surfaced primarily due to humans spending time in aquatic waters and spent a majority of the evolutionary period going from quadrupedal to bipedal” (qtd Shelby Tremblay). As a result, a human child needed to initiate contact with their mother to survive. Elaine Morgan quotes a research study stating that children afflicted with ADHD initiate more contacts with their mother and therefore possessed an evolutionary advantage over people who were not afflicted with this illness. This theory, along with Eisenberg’s research experiment further cements the case that ADHD is a direct result of

Barkley proposes that ADHD is not a problem with the skills necessary to regulate behavior, and plan ahead, rather, it is a performance problem- children with ADHD have difficulties when performing activities that depend on working memory, and have difficulties with tasks that require attention because they can’t inhibit dominant responses to environment stimuli.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a phrase that has moved out of the realm of pure science or psychology and into common parlance. Like depression, the public has a general and vague sense of the "type" of person who may have ADHD, and has heard the name Ritalin, the main drug used in treatment, bandied about. As the name of the disorder implies, its symptoms present generally as "inattention and a combination of hyperactive and impulsive behaviors" (2). ADHD has only recently been able to be tangibly identified in the nervous system, and its' diagnostic criteria has continued to be revised. The discovery of specific physiological

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder, that is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning and development (Gargiulo). People who have been diagnosed with ADHD have difficulties with controlling their behavior and may also have difficulties in self-regulation in their actions towards others. These people may be characterized as being inattentive, may procrastinate, have a tendency to be easily bored, and may be easily distracted (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). These characteristics and difficulties may cause various social issues between those affected with ADHD and their companions, as well as emotional issues when one is not allowed to freely do what they want (Ghuman, 45).

ADHD was first mentioned in a 1902 speech by George Still of England. It was characterized as hyperactivity, behavioral problems with lack of concentration and learning difficulties. Some viewed it as “advanced lack of moral control”. George Still wrote “I would point out that a notable feature in many of these cases of moral defect without general impairment of intellect is a quite abnormal incapacity for sustained attention.” His conclusion was: “there is a defect of moral consciousness which cannot be accounted for by any fault of environment”

In other words, we know that it is influenced greatly by a person’s genetics. In fact, it is so strongly influenced from genetics that if a parent has ADHD, the child will usually have about a one in two chance of having the disorder as well. A child who has an identical twin with the disorder is eighteen times more likely to have the disorder than a child who has a non-identical sibling (who is not a twin) that has ADHD. Aside from genetics, the actual cause of ADHD is not known. Theories include exposure to toxins before birth, poor diet during pregnancy, or abnormal fetal development. It is possible that alcohol and tobacco abuse during pregnancy can cause a child to have ADHD. However, this is rare, as it happens in less than ten percent of cases. A common misperception is that ADHD can be caused by poor parenting. While it is true that parenting practices such as lack of discipline can reduce the effects of treatment, it is not the actual cause of the problem. We don’t know for sure what causes ADHD, but we have many

Many scientific and non-scientific suggestions have been made regarding the causes ADHD. However, there are no definitive conclusions or agreements made on what exactly causes ADHD in children. Some have associated ADHD with nongenetic physiological and behavioral factors such as low birthweight, traumatic brain injury, prenatal stress, maternal smoking, etc. (Arcangelo & Peterson, 2013). Others associated ADHD with chemical and environmental factors and they argue that environmental factors play a role in altering and modulating genes that regulate the manufacturing of neurotransmitters that are essential for normal functions of the brain, especially for attention, inhibiting external distraction and self-control (Burns et al., 20013).

ADHD is an abbreviation for attention deficit/hyper activity disorder. It is commonly referred to as a psychiatric disorder in need of therapy. The origination of the disease is in the neuro-physiological brain construct, and the main cause of the disorder is considered to be genetic (Wilson, 2012). Many children with ADHD struggle with impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention (Unnever, Cullen, & Pratt, 2003). According to McNamara, Vervaeke, and Willoughby (2008), “attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder among children and adolescents. It affects between 3% and 5% of school age children” (p. 38). In a

The causal factors for ADHD in children have been much debated. It still remains unclear to what extent the disorder results from environmental or biological factors (Carr et al., 2006; Hinshaw et al., 2007), and recent researchers believe that biological factors such as genetic inheritance will turn out to be important precursors to the development of ADHD (Durston, 2003). But firm conclusions about any biological basis for ADHD must await further research (Butcher & Hooley, 2014, p. 513).

According to scientists 57% of parents whose children suffer from ADHD had the same symptoms in their childhood. Many patients at the doctor’s office talk about their difficult childhood and the difficulties they experienced in school, what kind of treatment they received, and now the same problems arise in their own children. Genetics scientsts are trying to find the exact answer

Several recent studies have explored the interplay between different genetic and environmental risk factors associated with ADHD. One of the main motivators for these investigations is that, in twin studies, gene markers have only been implicated in a small fraction of heritability. Therefore, there has been a need to identify the environmental conditions that favor the highest genetic impact, along with the genotypic profiles that make the environmental experiences more influential. Several psychosocial factors, including low income, family conflict and adversity, are thought to show some level of genetic interaction when it comes to contributing to ADHD symptoms, primarily with the DAT1 and 5-HTT genotypes

Next, because of the accumulated data gather by Licari & Licari (2008) within the study, which includes the association of ADHD with “poor balance, decreased fine moto ability, decreased gross motor ability, and impaired motor response resulting in slow reaction times”, Columbo-Dougivito (2013) postulated that “it could be hypothesized that these children also have low fitness levels” (as cited in Columbo-Dougivito,