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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with reading disabilities: preliminary genetic findings on the involvement of the ADRA2A gene

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with reading disabilities: preliminary genetic findings on the involvement of the ADRA2A gene
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with reading disabilities: preliminary genetic findings on the involvement of the ADRA2A gene
Background: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and reading disability (RD) tend to co-occur and quantitative genetic studies have shown this to arise primarily through shared genetic influences. However, molecular genetic studies have shown different genes to be associated with each of these conditions. Neurobiological studies have implicated noradrenergic function in the aetiology of ADHD that is comorbid with RD.
This paper examines the neurobiological evidence and presents preliminary testing of the hypothesis that the ADRA2A receptor gene is contributing to ADHD and comorbid RD.
Methods: One hundred and fifty-two children (140 boys, 12 girls) of British Caucasian origin, aged between 6 and 13 years and with a diagnosis of ADHD, were recruited. The children’s reading ability was tested. Children were identified as having ADHD or ADHD plus RD (n =82). DNA was available for 10 parent child trios and 42 parent child duos. Genotyping was undertaken for an ADRA2A polymorphism.
Results: For those with ADHD plus RD there was evidence of association with the alpha 2A adrenergic receptor (ADRA2A) polymorphism with the G allele being preferentially transmitted.
Conclusions: The preliminary evidence together with other neurobiological research findings suggests that the ADRA2A gene may contribute to comorbid ADHD and RD and needs to be properly examined.
alpha 2a adrenergic receptor, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, comorbidity, genetics, reading disability
0021-9630
1081-1088
Stevenson, J.
0c85d29b-d294-43cb-ab8d-75e4737478e1
Langley, K.
ce8d5c40-3372-4746-a091-55f787db296f
Pay, H.
fbbab8e6-4cec-48b5-801c-9dcc5fd79bd3
Payton, A.
ed18d1fc-c89f-40b6-b89b-55e202bcae15
Worthington, J.
42e79a68-7ed9-4be1-8967-52ca1056e069
Ollier, W.
c1e9ef70-5cdb-4f3b-ab6c-cba30c0d6dd9
Thapar, A.
792558b3-01ec-4ccf-83c6-9f408aa3b601
Stevenson, J.
0c85d29b-d294-43cb-ab8d-75e4737478e1
Langley, K.
ce8d5c40-3372-4746-a091-55f787db296f
Pay, H.
fbbab8e6-4cec-48b5-801c-9dcc5fd79bd3
Payton, A.
ed18d1fc-c89f-40b6-b89b-55e202bcae15
Worthington, J.
42e79a68-7ed9-4be1-8967-52ca1056e069
Ollier, W.
c1e9ef70-5cdb-4f3b-ab6c-cba30c0d6dd9
Thapar, A.
792558b3-01ec-4ccf-83c6-9f408aa3b601

Stevenson, J., Langley, K., Pay, H., Payton, A., Worthington, J., Ollier, W. and Thapar, A. (2005) Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with reading disabilities: preliminary genetic findings on the involvement of the ADRA2A gene. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46 (10), 1081-1088. (doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2005.01533.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and reading disability (RD) tend to co-occur and quantitative genetic studies have shown this to arise primarily through shared genetic influences. However, molecular genetic studies have shown different genes to be associated with each of these conditions. Neurobiological studies have implicated noradrenergic function in the aetiology of ADHD that is comorbid with RD.
This paper examines the neurobiological evidence and presents preliminary testing of the hypothesis that the ADRA2A receptor gene is contributing to ADHD and comorbid RD.
Methods: One hundred and fifty-two children (140 boys, 12 girls) of British Caucasian origin, aged between 6 and 13 years and with a diagnosis of ADHD, were recruited. The children’s reading ability was tested. Children were identified as having ADHD or ADHD plus RD (n =82). DNA was available for 10 parent child trios and 42 parent child duos. Genotyping was undertaken for an ADRA2A polymorphism.
Results: For those with ADHD plus RD there was evidence of association with the alpha 2A adrenergic receptor (ADRA2A) polymorphism with the G allele being preferentially transmitted.
Conclusions: The preliminary evidence together with other neurobiological research findings suggests that the ADRA2A gene may contribute to comorbid ADHD and RD and needs to be properly examined.

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More information

Published date: 2005
Keywords: alpha 2a adrenergic receptor, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, comorbidity, genetics, reading disability

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 17451
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/17451
ISSN: 0021-9630
PURE UUID: c5ce8f79-eb3b-408a-a03c-f42b6a584942

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Date deposited: 23 Sep 2005
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 05:59

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Contributors

Author: J. Stevenson
Author: K. Langley
Author: H. Pay
Author: A. Payton
Author: J. Worthington
Author: W. Ollier
Author: A. Thapar

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