Insights into attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder from recent genetic studies. Issue 13 (5th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brikell, Isabell; Burton, Christie; Mota, Nina Roth; Martin, Joanna
• Is Part Of: Psychological medicine. Volume 51:Issue 13(2021)
• Page Start: 2274
• Page End: 2286
• Publication Date: 2021-10-05
• Subjects: ADHD -- genetics -- twin studies -- GWAS; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Medicine and psychology -- Periodicals; Clinical psychology -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1017/S0033291721000982
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-2917

Abstract

Abstract: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common and highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD). In this narrative review, we summarize recent advances in quantitative and molecular genetic research from the past 5–10 years. Combined with large-scale international collaboration, these advances have resulted in fast-paced progress in understanding the etiology of ADHD and how genetic risk factors map on to clinical heterogeneity. Studies are converging on a number of key insights. First, ADHD is a highly polygenic NDD with a complex genetic architecture encompassing risk variants across the spectrum of allelic frequencies, which are implicated in neurobiological processes. Second, genetic studies strongly suggest that ADHD diagnosis shares a large proportion of genetic risks with continuously distributed traits of ADHD in the population, with shared genetic risks also seen across development and sex. Third, ADHD genetic risks are shared with those implicated in many other neurodevelopmental, psychiatric and somatic phenotypes. As sample sizes and the diversity of genetic studies continue to increase through international collaborative efforts, we anticipate further success with gene discovery, characterization of how the ADHD phenotype relates to other human traits and growing potential to use genomic risk factors for understanding clinical trajectories and for precision medicine approaches.