Genetics and ADHD (broadcast Friday, July 11th, 2008)

Researchers studying Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may have found a genetic clue to the condition, one of the most common mental disorders that develop in children. Writing this week in the Journal of Neuroscience, scientists report that in two brothers with ADHD, a genetic change appears to make one of the brain's neurochemical pathways, the dopamine transporter, run in reverse. The result of that mis-wiring is that the brain acts as if amphetamines are always present, the researchers say. The work might also help explain why chemicals that are stimulants in people without ADHD, such as Ritalin, have a calming, focusing effect in some children with the condition. We'll talk with one of the study's authors about the findings, and what they might mean for ADHD treatment. Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.