ADHD Facts You Didn't Know
1. The risk of substance abuse is higher for both males and females with ADHD.
Research has shown a strong connection between ADHD and drug abuse and alcoholism. In fact, ADHD is five to ten times more common among adult alcoholics than it is in people without the condition.
About 50% of teens and adults with ADHD, struggle with addiction, and people with ADHD are more likely to abuse alcohol at an earlier age compared to those without the disorder..
People with ADHD are more likely to abuse drugs because they're impulsive and likely have problematic coping mechanisms.
2. ADHD is easier inherited than breast cancer, asthma and schizophrenia
The truth about ADHD is that its highly genetic. In fact, the heritability factor for ADHD is .77, meaning if you have ADHD, there's a 77% chance you inherited the disorder. 1. If one parent has ADHD, there’s a 40% chance that the child will inherit the condition. If both parents have ADHD, the child is 80% likely to inherit the condition.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7046577/
3. ADHD brains not only look different from non-ADHD brains, they also function differently
In a study conducted by Researchers at Radbound University Nijmegen Medical Centre, scientists concluded that the overall size and volume of the ADHD brain is smaller than the non-ADHD brain.
The ADHD brain has less grey matter in key areas of the brain, compared to the non-ADHD brain. The cortical thickness of the outer layer of the brain in the adhd brain.
There is also consistent evidence that the brains of children with ADHD are significantly smaller, on average, than the brains of healthy comparison children throughout childhood and adolescence
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28219628/
4. ADHD is Easier inherited than breast cancer, asthma and even schizophrenia.
ADHD is highly heritable. In fact, the heritability factor for ADHD is .77 which means if you have been diagnosed with ADHD there is a 77% chance you inherited it. Over half of adults diagnosed with ADHD have at least one child with the disorder, and approximately 25–50% of children with ADHD have a parent with the disorder.
5. There is no test to diagnose ADHD.
Neither blood tests nor brain scans can tell whether or not someone has ADHD. The diagnosis is made by taking a careful clinical history including information from home and school, and by observing the child in a clinic setting.
6. The ADHD brain has impaired activity in four functional regions of the brain.
The frontal Cortex, the limbic system, basal ganglia, and reticular activating system.
7. There is no proven cure for ADHD.
Adhd is a life-long condition. Research shows that 50% of kids diagnosed with ADHD go on to struggle with ADHD as an adult.
ADHD can be treated effectively with medication and behavioral therapy. Medication can help reduce symptoms and improve functioning. Behavioral therapy teaches skills to manage behavior and helps children develop coping strategies.
8. ADHD affects approximately 1 in 30 women.
This number has been on the rise lately.
9. Women with ADHD (but without any comorbid conditions) had a higher risk of alcohol and cannabis abuse when compared with males.
Women with ADHD, who have no other comorbidities, have a higher risk of