5 Top Theories about the Causes of ADHD
by
Douglas Haddad 
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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has become one of the most common childhood disorders that persist into adulthood, affecting about four percent of adults in the U.S. Many theories have been proposed over the years as to the causes of this disorder. Some have been rejected, while others require more research to be done.
Below are five of the most common theories about causes of ADHD:
1. Genetics
Too often people dismiss ADHD as the result of a poor diet high in sugar or bad parenting. Research has identified certain genetic abnormalities to be the cause of ADHD. It has been shown that the brains of children with ADHD develop differently from other children.
A study published in The Lancet reported that scientists at Cardiff University in Wales found children with ADHD more likely to have some small segments of their DNA either missing or duplicated.1
According to the study, it identified significant overlap between these segments, known as copy number variants (CNVs) and genetic variants implicated in autism and schizophrenia, thus demonstrating supporting evidence that ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder.
2. Pesticides
Although U.S. governmental regulations have substantially reduced environmental exposure to lead by regulating automobile fuel and paint ingredients, children may continue to be exposed if they live in older homes and apartments, which contain older plumbing fixtures as well as lead-based paint still on walls and woodwork.
Lead is found in a variety of things ranging from children’s jewelry and toys to certain foods, food containers, and certain cosmetics. Research suggests that chronic long-term low level exposure to lead is a cause of ADHD.6
The researchers discovered that children diagnosed with hyperactive and impulsive symptoms had slightly higher levels of lead in their blood compared with children who did not demonstrate these behaviors.
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Sources:
- First direct evidence that ADHD is a genetic disorder: Children with ADHD more likely to have missing or duplicated segments of DNA. ScienceDaily. 2010.
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Urinary Metabolites of Organophosphate Pesticides. Pediatrics. 2010.
- ADHD and Pregnancy. The American Journal of Psychiatry. 2014.
- Prenatal nicotine exposure during pregnancy results in adverse neurodevelopmental alterations and neurobehavioral deficits. Advances in Drug and Alcohol Research. 2023.
- Fetal alcohol syndrome. MayoClinic. 2024.
- Annual Reserach Review: Perspectives on progress in ADHD science – from characterization to cause. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2022.
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