Ultimately I think we are going to find a toxic substance in our environment playing a key role in the dismantling of our neurobilogical systems -much like Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. A few toxic substances have been suspected, namely lead and subjection to cigarette smoke while in utero. Given the number of people who have it, and it is not solely a North American affliction, it is world wide, it has to be a rather accessible common place agent. What do you think is at the root of add and if it is indeed toxins from cigarrettes, could the tobacco companies wind up facing the biggest class action suit known to man to date? Hmmm?

Well ADD itself has existed since before we has all these Toxic pollutants in the environment. Thom Hartmann had done research that links the AD/HD to the DRD4 Gene from over 40,000 years ago.

I don't think the studie that have been done do anything more than link children with AD/HD to some mother who smoked. That doesn't say the cigarettes cause ADD. It could just be that the mother herself has AD/HD and was self medicating with the ciggarettes.

I do think that the increased ammount of Toxins and the decrease essential nutrients may play a role in AD/HD. They may aggrivate it but I don't they actually cause the AD/HD itself.

I'm not sure about this. Yes my mom and dad smoke and so did just about everyone in my family so I've was around even before I was born. But I'm the only one who's ADD. I have a younger brother and sister they're not, my mom isn't and her parents weren't. But my Dad I'm pretty sure is and he as 2 younger sisters who feel they maybe and they both have sons who are ADD. My sister has 2 daughters neither show any signs of ADD either and so do I .

Unless some people would be more sensitive to Toxic pollutants which would have them being effected and others not I'm not sure how this would play out in my family history.

Originally posted by livingwithadd
Thom Hartmann had done research that links the AD/HD to the DRD4 Gene from over 40,00 years ago.

I have read Hartmann and I must admit I forgot this and must revisit his research. If this is true, then it backs up my opinion that adhd is simply a personality type that only 2% of the world population has.

I agree the toxin aspect will probably not render the anwers scientists are looking for. In my family my mother smoked but I inherited the inattenion gene from good old dad. So that theory goes up in smoke! LOL!

I believe it is genetic, but with many genetic traits, environment can effect how severe the outcome is.

Like with the "breast cancer" gene (genetic), your chances still increase with smoking. (environment)

Steve, as recently as December of last year scientists discovered that only the D1 receptor was genetically transmitted and it governs inattention. So that means the impulsivity and hyperactivity are influenced by some other agent. It really makes me wonder if down the line we may find that the rest of the stuff under the ADHD umbrella may be normal, but in only 2%of the population...

The agent may be that the society we live in is too boring for us...lol

Was Thom Hartmann the one who said the ADD was linked to a "hunter/gatherer" gene that helped humans survive at a time when our environment was extremely hostile and demanding?