ADHD.. .. What Every Parent Needs to Know; for Years They Were Dismissed as 'Just Naughty', but Scientists Have Made a Breakthrough in Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. So What Could It Mean for You? by Charlotte Haigh

Byline: Charlotte Haigh

Watching a child tear around a room, unable to sit still for more than a few seconds, an outsider might be inclined to blame their upbringing.

Parents of these seemingly uncontrollable children have grown used to rolled eyes, tuts and nasty comments from disapproving passers-by. And when such children were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, some saw it as an excuse for bad behaviour and bad parenting. But new research has linked ADHD firmly to genetics.

The study, led by Professor Anita Thapar at Cardiff University, found children with ADHD are twice as likely to have bits of genes either missing or duplicated. And those

with ADHD and learning difficulties are six times more likely to have these gene variations. That gene area has also been linked with schizophrenia and autism.

So for the first time a significant link between genetic abnormalities and ADHD has been proved. At last parents can show there is a reason their child is misbehaving and experts can start looking for effective treatments.

What is ADHD?

"It's a developmental condition characterised by inattention and difficulty concentrating, along with hyperactivity and impulsivity. Although …

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Publication information: Article title: ADHD.. .. What Every Parent Needs to Know; for Years They Were Dismissed as 'Just Naughty', but Scientists Have Made a Breakthrough in Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. So What Could It Mean for You? by Charlotte Haigh. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: The Mirror (London, England). Publication date: October 8, 2010. Page number: 32. © 2009 MGN LTD. COPYRIGHT 2010 Gale Group.

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