{"id":283853,"date":"2025-10-07T11:26:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T11:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/283853\/"},"modified":"2025-10-07T11:26:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T11:26:12","slug":"how-to-determine-if-youre-at-risk-for-adult-adhd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/283853\/","title":{"rendered":"How to determine if you\u2019re at risk for adult ADHD"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recent studies are uncovering more about genes contributing to developing the disorder. An article in\u00a0Nature Genetics<\/a>\u00a0identified numerous genes associated with ADHD, many of which are active when the brain is developing. \u201cThe most recent studies on the genetics of ADHD have identified 27 common genetic variants that are associated with having ADHD,\u201d says Sandra K. Loo<\/a>, director of pediatric neuropsychology and professor of psychiatry at UCLA\u2019s David Geffen School of Medicine. \u201cHaving more of these gene variants is likely to confer a higher risk for having ADHD.\u201d<\/p>\n

The combination of elements contributing to an individual case of the disorder might be different depending on the person. \u201cGenetic expression is highly influenced by the environment, as well as its interaction with other genes,\u201d Javier says. \u201cSo things like physical, chemical, social, and nutritional influences can vary widely, and that can affect the manifestation of ADHD.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(Why rates of adult ADHD are rising<\/a>)<\/p>\n

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The most recent studies on the genetics of ADHD have identified 27 common genetic variants that are associated with having ADHD. Having more of these gene variants is likely to confer a higher risk for having ADHD.<\/p>\n

Sandra K. Loo, director of pediatric neuropsychology and professor of psychiatry at UCLA\u2019s David Geffen School of Medicine<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

While Chandler seems to have passed down a paternal link to the condition, researchers are learning that, for some people, what happens during pregnancy or shortly after birth may contribute to the condition. \u201cThere are strong associations with maternal smoking, maternal obesity, preeclampsia during pregnancy, and the use of acetaminophen,\u201d Rush says, although the evidence surrounding acetaminophen use is still mixed.<\/p>\n

Research published in the\u00a0Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry<\/a>\u00a0suggests that an infection during pregnancy, especially one that causes a fever, is a risk factor because the mother\u2019s immune response to an infection could disrupt the brain development of the fetus. \u201cThere\u2019s also literature that suggests that September is a peak birth month for children diagnosed with ADHD,\u201d Javier says, \u201cand the idea is that there is a higher risk of prenatal exposure to infection during the first trimester, in the winter months, when infections are more common.\u201d (Another theory suggests that the September peak isn\u2019t solely correlated with prenatal infection. It may be affected by school enrollment cutoff dates, where children who are young for their grade may be more likely to be diagnosed because of developmental immaturity.)<\/p>\n

While there isn\u2019t enough research yet to understand the exact influence certain environmental factors have on developing the disorder, there are some strong associations. For example, studies have shown a connection between lead exposure in young children and the emergence of ADHD symptoms<\/a>. Research has also associated the prevalence of phthalates<\/a> or bisphenol A (BPA<\/a>)\u2014chemicals found in plastic consumer products\u2014with the condition. \u201cOf the toxins, exposure to high levels of lead has been strongly associated with ADHD risk,\u201d Loo says.<\/p>\n

(Dust isn\u2019t just dirt\u2014it\u2019s full of \u2018forever chemicals\u2019 that can harm your health<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

But associations between genetics and our environment still aren\u2019t fully understood. \u201cThere\u2019s a whole lot of things that contribute to these brain changes,\u201d Rush says, \u201cand we call them ADHD because of the symptoms that they cause.\u201d<\/p>\n

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While doctors and researchers still aren\u2019t sure of the exact cause of the disorder, the predominant theory \u2018is primarily genetics and the biology of what\u2019s going on in the brain that seems to be associated with it.\u2019<\/p>\n

Stephen Rush, professor of psychiatry, University of Cincinnati<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

For Chandler, understanding the condition has helped his family better navigate their daily life. He currently applies his hands-on skills in his job as a technician and enjoys motorcycling. After their daughter\u2019s diagnosis and years of keeping her in the school system, he and his wife chose homeschooling for their family. Their daughter flourished, as it allowed her to go at her own pace.<\/p>\n

Today, she\u2019s a teenager, and her favorite subjects are anatomy and biology. She is preparing to begin a welding program, and she shows signs of following in her father\u2019s footsteps. She just bought a motorcycle. \u201cWhatever culture we\u2019re in, we can help to move it forward,\u201d Chandler says, \u201cto be more accepting of the realities of human nature.\u201d<\/p>\n

A version of this story appears in the November 2025 issue of National Geographic magazine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Recent studies are uncovering more about genes contributing to developing the disorder. An article in\u00a0Nature Genetics\u00a0identified numerous genes…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":283854,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[815,159,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-283853","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-genetics","8":"tag-genetics","9":"tag-science","10":"tag-united-states","11":"tag-unitedstates","12":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115332644019776043","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/283853","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=283853"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/283853\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/283854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=283853"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=283853"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=283853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}