22nd ECNP Congress 2009: The Role of Genetic Factors in Adult ADHD

ISTANBUL - At the 22nd ECNP Congress, Dr. Barbara Franke, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands, presented today the latest findings in the identification of ADHD risk genes. “Converging evidence suggests that ADHD aetiology has a robust genetic component”, said Franke. Heritability of adult ADHD appears even higher than that in children: whereas a sibling of a child with ADHD has a 3-4-fold increased risk compared to control children, this risk-increase is 17-fold for a sibling of an adult ADHD patient. Major breakthroughs are expected from the International Multicenter persistent ADHD CollaboraTion (IMpACT), which is investigating the largest clinical ADHD sample worldwide.

Although ADHD is classically viewed as a disorder of children, more than half of the patients carry symptoms into adulthood. The prevalence of ADHD in adults is 1-4%. Adult patients have difficulties in the social and professional fields, such as developing stable social relationships, completing educational programmes and holding down jobs. The expansion of knowledge in genetics, brain imaging, and behavioural research is leading to a better understanding of the causes of ADHD, paving the way for more effective treatments for all age groups and the prevention of ADHD progression into adulthood.

Recently, it has become possible to search for such genes on a genome-wide basis. This approach has delivered a first gene for ADHD in children, CDH13, encoding a cell-adhesion gene with a role in early brain development. A preliminary analysis in IMpACT suggests that this gene also plays a role in adult ADHD. The identification of genetic risk factors for ADHD will help to identify targets for new treatments, and contribute to early disease prevention.

Source: Press Conference at the 22nd ECNP Congress, 15 Sept 2009, Istanbul, Turkey

The European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP), founded in 1987, is a scientific forum that encourages translational research between the neurosciences and clinical practice (www.ecnp.eu).

For further information please contact: Press Office ECNP 2009: Update Europe Vienna, Austria Tel. +43-1-405-57-34 E-mail: s.mak@update.europe.at

Source: Update Europe

For further information please contact: Press Office ECNP 2009: Update Europe, Vienna, Austria, Tel. +43-1-405-57-34, E-mail: s.mak at update.europe.at