2. Myths about what causes hyperactive
behavior or ADHD
Sugar: Parents and teachers have often complained that
young children become more hyperactive when they
ingest sugar in the form of soft drinks, cakes, and candies.
Television: General public believe that by watching
Video games: too much television or playing too many
video games will cause children to have ADHD
Artificial food colorings: Parents rate their children
Additives: higher in inattention and hyperactivity than
when they are on a diet free of colorings and additives.
3. Areas of the Brain Affected
Prefrontal Lobes
Frontal Lobes
Basal Ganglia
Cerebellum
Corpus Callosum
By using neuroimaging techniques, several
researchers have found consistent
abnormalities in areas of the brain in people
with ADHD.
4. Areas of the Brain Affected
Prefrontal, Frontal Lobes
Located in front of the brain, the frontal lobes--and
especially the very front portion of the frontal lobes, the
prefrontal lobes. They are responsible for what are
referred to as executive functions. Executive functions
involve the ability to regulate one’s own behavior.
Basal Ganglia
It consist of several parts, caudate and the globus
pallidus being the structures that are abnormal in
persons with ADHD. The Basal Ganglia are responsible
for the coordination and control of motor behavior.
5. Areas of the Brain Affected
Cerebellum
Relatively small, constituting only about 10 % of the mass of
the brain, the fact that it contains more than half of all the brain’s
neurons attest to it’s complexity. Responsible for the
coordination and control of motor behavior.
Corpus Callosum
Consists of millions of fibers that connect the left and right
hemisphere of the brain. Responsible for communication
between the hemispheres, it’s important variety of cognitive
functions.
6. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that can help in
the sending of messages between neurons in the
brain.
Researchers have found that abnormal levels of
two neurotransmitters that appears to involved in
ADHD:
1. Dopamine: The level of which may be abnormal
in people with ADHD.
2. Norepinephrine: Chemicals involved in sending
messages between neurons in the brain.
7.
8. Transmission of ADHD: 3 Sources
Family Studies:
Studies indicate that if a child has ADHD, the chance of his or her siblings having
ADHD is about 32%. Children of adults with ADHD run a 57% risk of having ADHD.
Twin Studies:
Several researchers have compared the prevalence of ADHD in identical versus
fraternal twins, when one of the members of the pair has ADHD.
These studies consistently show that if and identical twin and a fraternal twin each
have ADHD, the second identical twin is much more likely to have ADHD than the
second fraternal twin.
Molecular Genetic Studies:
With the mapping of the human genome have come advance in
molecular genetics, the study of the molecules (DNA, RNA, and protein)
that regular genetic information. Molecular genetic research on ADHD is in
its early stages, but it’s safe to say that in the vast majority of cases there is
no one single gene that causes ADHD. Several genes contribute to ADHD.
In particular, genes are involved in regulating dopamine have been
implicated in persons with ADHD.
9.
10. Toxins and Medical Factors
Facts:
Toxins are agents that can cause malformations in the developing fetus of
a pregnant woman.
Toxins does not have a strong evidence to cause ADHD than
hereditary, but complications at birth and low birth weight are associated
with ADHD.
Examples:
Exposure to lead and abuse of alcohol and tobacco by pregnant woman
does place the unborn child at risk of developing ADHD.
Smoking during pregnancy is associated with having babies with having
babies of low birth weight.
There’s also a suggestive evidence that smoking by mothers-to-be can result in
their children who are genetically susceptible based on their dopamine-
related genes being at risk for ADHD.
