Causes of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Causes of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD Print The Causes of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder By Keath Low Keath Low, MA, is a therapist and clinical scientist with the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities at the University of North Carolina. She specializes in treatment of ADD/ADHD. Learn about our editorial policy Keath Low Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on June 16, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on August 02, 2019 ADHD Overview Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Living With In Children In This Article Table of Contents Expand Genetics Toxins Exposure to Substances in Utero Illnesses  and Injuries What Does Not Cause ADHD View All The exact cause of ADHD isnt known. But, researchers suspect there may be several factors that play a role in determining whether someone might develop ADHD. Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin Genetics Whether you have recently been  diagnosed with ADHD  or have been living with ADHD for many years, a question almost all adults ask is:  Will my children have ADHD,  too? The answer is:  It depends. ADHD is primarily a hereditary disorder. It is estimated that the percentage of genetic contribution to ADHD is over 70%.?? Despite this strong genetic link, having ADHD doesn’t automatically mean youll pass it on to your child. This is because it is a combination of genes and environmental factors that determine whether a child develops ADHD. Children can inherit ADHD genes without them being activated. For example, one research study found that one-third of fathers with ADHD had children that also developed ADHD.?? If you inherit ADHD from a parent, their ADHD presentation (or subtype) whether Inattentive, Hyperactive-Impulsive  or combined,  will not influence the ADHD presentation you have. To date, several gene candidates have been found in families who demonstrate ADHD; however, scientists feel that it is not one particular gene but the interaction of several of these genes and the environment that cause ADHD symptoms to manifest.?? ADHD is not a sex-linked condition. In other words, ADHD does not occur only in males and is thus not passed down only from a father to the children. So often people think, “It’s only fathers who can have ADHD, and if the dad doesn’t have ADHD then the child can’t possibly have it.” This is inaccurate.?? Although ADHD is more frequent in males than females, it is important to understand that both mothers and fathers can have ADHD. Toxins Exposure to lead (even low levels) can result in hyperactivity and inattention. Lead can be found a variety of places, such as in the paint of homes built before 1978 or previously in gasoline.?? Exposure to Substances in Utero A mothers health and habits during pregnancy can also play a role in the development of ADHD. Poor nutrition and infections during pregnancy can increase the risk of ADHD, for example. Theres also evidence that says using substances during pregnancy increases the risk that the child will develop ADHD. Heres what the research says: Smoking  A 2018 study published in Pediatrics found a significant relationship between smoking during pregnancy and the likelihood of a child having ADHD. The risk of ADHD was greater in children whose mothers were heavy smokers. The study couldnt conclude that smoking causes ADHD but it did indicate that a correlation exists.Maternal Alcohol Use - Some studies have found that mothers who drink during pregnancy are more likely to have children with ADHD. A 2018 study found that the use of at least four drinks or the regular use of low-moderate alcohol doses during pregnancy was associated with significantly increased odds of subsequent child ADHD. A 2017 study, however, found that there was no link between maternal alcohol use and a clinical ADHD diagnosis in children. This study suggested that children may develop some symptoms of ADHD if their mother used alcohol, but they didnt necessarily qualify for an ADHD diagnosis. 10 Risks of Smoking During Pregnancy Certain Illnesses  and Injuries Illnesses such as meningitis or encephalitis can result in learning and attention problems.????? A small percentage of the population will manifest ADHD symptoms as a result of brain damage, such as an early brain injury, trauma or another impediment to normal brain development.?? What Does Not Cause ADHD As more research is carried out, not only are we learning what causes ADHDâ€"we are also learning what does not cause ADHD.  Although the following things have sometimes been thought to contribute, research is clear that these things do not lead to ADHD: Watching  TV  Diet, including too much sugarHormone disorders (such as low thyroid)Poor parentingPlaying video and computer games A Word From Verywell Its likely that ADHD stems from a variety of symptoms. Someone who has a genetic predisposition, for example, may encounter environmental factors that also contribute to the development of ADHD.?? How Is ADHD Diagnosed?