This report describes the general characteristics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is estimated to affect 5-7% of children and adolescents worldwide. ADHD is a complex multifactorial disorder involving both genetic susceptibility and environmental triggers; multiple susceptibility loci have been identified (see MIM:143465). Heritability of ADHD is estimated to be in the range of 60-80%.
For putative susceptibility loci studied using Drosophila models, see the "Related Diseases" section below.
For a number of diseases that are associated with increased incidence of symptoms of ADHD, that aspect of the disease has been investigated in flies; see neurofibromatosis, type 1 (FBhh0000197) and Alzheimer disease 1 (FBhh0000119).
[updated Nov. 2017 by FlyBase; FBrf0222196]
[ATTENTION DEFICIT-HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER; ADHD](https://omim.org/entry/143465)
Meta-regression analyses have estimated the worldwide ADHD/HKD prevalence at between 5.3% and 7.1% in children and adolescents, and at 3.4% (range 1.2-7.3%) in adults (http://adhd-institute.com/burden-of-adhd/epidemiology/).
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition that includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior; the condition often continues into adulthood (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adhd/symptoms-causes/syc-20350889).
ADHD is the most common childhood-onset behavioral disorder, affecting approximately 5 to 10% of children and adolescents (Wolraich et al., 1996; pubmed: 8714320). In this condition, persistent inattention and/or hyperactive-impulsive behavior results in impaired social and/or academic functioning. Boys are affected about 8 times more frequently than girls (Zametkin et al., 1990; pubmed:2233902). [from MIM:143465; 2017.11.21]
Twin studies estimate the heritability of ADHD to be 70-80% (reviewed in Matthews, et al., 2014; pubmed:24214656 ); other estimates are in the range of 60-75% (reviewed in Cortese, 2012; pubmed:22306277).
Multiple genes contribute to the phenotype of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. [from MIM:143465; 2017.11.21; see this OMIM report for additional information on specific gene associations.]
Pharmacologic, neuroimaging, and animal-model findings suggest imbalances in monoaminergic (dopaminergic, serotonergic, and noradrenergic) neurotransmission in ADHD. [from MIM:143465; 2017.11.21]
