Hi I was just wondering if anyone could tell me if adhd is heredited? Just my son has just been referred to see a psycologist due to his very bad behaviour and adhd symptons, and was just wondering if there was any connection between his dad as his dad and his dads brother both have been diagnosed with adhd?

Yes, ADHD is what they call highly "heritable."

ADHD is 80% genetic/inherited and 20% "acquired" via traumatic brain injury or some type of toxicity like lead paint.
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=211741&postcount=14
I found out about my own ADHD when I was researching about my son's. :)

Yes it does.

The literature (research) currently lists ADHD as being "80 % genetic/inherited in nature".

The other 20% is called "acquired" and results from mostly traumatic brain injuries or some type of toxicity like lead paint.

So basically,it breaks down to neurological and genetic factors.

My mother and my sister both have it too. I don't know if my late father had it or not.

Here's an excellent reference on ADHD that really is a listing of the research over the last 15 years or so , presented in list form with references:

The ADHD Book Of Lists...by Sandra Rief (2003).

I got my copy at Barnes & Noble, so it's readily available.

Welcome to the Forum.:)

mctavish23
(Robert)

Here's an excellent reference on ADHD that really is a listing of the research over the last 15 years or so , presented in list form with references:

The ADHD Book Of Lists...by Sandra Rief (2003).
After seeing you recommend this book so much, I ordered it through Amazon and got it this week. Love those bulleted lists! :)

From that book, list 1-6:


If one twin has symptoms of ADHD, the risk that the other will have the disorder is between 55-92%, with as high as 92% odds for identical twins.
There is a 45-50% chance that if a child has ADHD, one of the biological parents has ADHD as well.

I'm glad that you like it.

It's well put together and a tremendous time saver.

I'm even happier that someone's taken the time to check one of the references I frequently refer to.

take care
mctavish23 (Robert)

Yes -I don't know where I got it ,but my first born son has it ,still waiting to see if the other two boys exhibit symtoms

WE FROM THE TESTOSTERONE CROWD SALUTE YOU !!

The evidence at my house says YES! Also I am adopted, my birth mother was young and apparently had impulse control issues. :)

I have ADHD, my daughter has ADHD (looks like the same exact flavor as mine), and my family gene pool is heavily loaded with ADHD and associated comorbid conditions (Tourettes, OCD, Conduct Disorder, etc). So it definately runs in my family.

Scattered

My mom,innatentive,father-hyperactive.So,I would say YES.

My two sisters both are ADD, I am ADHD.
Nova

Yes, the tendency to develop ADD appears to be genetic. As such, ADD itself is highly heritable.

Me :D


Hi I was just wondering if anyone could tell me if adhd is heredited? Just my son has just been referred to see a psycologist due to his very bad behaviour and adhd symptons, and was just wondering if there was any connection between his dad as his dad and his dads brother both have been diagnosed with adhd?

:DNeuroscience Geeks Unite!:D


The main biology theory is that yes, it's genetic, and that it seems to run along paternal lines (i.e., thank you, fathers.) I'm adopted--was adopted at birth--so my diagnosis among a bunch of organized scientists, added to the later discovery of my biological father's raging case of ADD, cemented my belief in this theory, which admittedly has been argued in the science community.

I think (note "think"--I can't currently seem to track down my final thesis from last spring but I posted a bunch of the articles I found when I was writing it here on ADDF so it's probably around here) that this article (http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&rendertype=abstract&artid=549191) might have some useful words on the paternal genetics theory I speak of.


-Chrys

The main biology theory is that yes, it's genetic, and that it seems to run along paternal lines (i.e., thank you, fathers.)
It's funny -- in my family, my mother and her mother are the most raging of the ADDers :D. But my father was schizophrenic, so I guess he did his part for the old gene pool.

...is unique in glitchiness, thanks to (you guessed it) hormones. There are truly differences and complications which differ between genders and result in slightly different sets of conundrums for each.

To be frank, PMS messes with ADD symptoms like no other. I don't have time to look up an article about that right now, but you're welcome to check for one. (http://www.pubmed.gov)

~C

It runs on my mother's side, too. Definitely all down through the women. In fact, my male cousin and I are the first males in our family to have it.

/random factoid