Do negative behaviors of parents cause attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to occur?
This question is one of the top questions asked by families whose children have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to themselves and to specialists. The common result of the studies on the causes of ADHD formation gives the answer NO to this question. The social environment does not contribute to the formation of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In other words, even if a child who does not have a genetic background (predisposition) for the development of attention deficit is exposed to adverse environmental conditions, ADHD does not develop. From this sentence, it should not be concluded that negative parental attitudes do not affect the mental health of children. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental retardation and its basis is biological.
Well then, isn’t family, school and friends (social environment) important in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?
In the approach to ADHD, the social environment is never too important. The role of the social environment in ADHD, on the other hand, is on the development of accompanying diseases and the treatment process. The environment plays a very important role in the development of additional psychiatric diseases in a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, in the treatment process and in reducing the problem areas.
So, what diseases can an unsuitable social environment trigger in a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
The influence of the social environment has been proven in the development of many additional diseases such as oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, anxiety disorder, depression, and encopresis.
So what are the main reasons for the development of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
ADHD is a brain-based disease and the main cause is genetics. It is reported that the effect of genetics is around 75% and it has an effect close to the hereditary transmission of the neck. The clearest information showing the genetic causes of the disease comes from twin studies. Studies have shown that the incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in identical twins (in individuals who are genetically identical) is much higher than in fraternal twins.
In studies that examine which gene region is the problem, results are obtained showing that genes associated with dopamine (an information carrier in the brain) formation, transport and receptors are responsible. Detection of dopamine-related genes in these studies once again revealed the importance of brain chemicals in this disease, since drugs also act on dopamine.
What are the environmental factors that cause the development of attention deficit?
Various risks in the womb or in the first years of life are thought to be responsible for this disease by affecting the development process of neurons (brain cells). It has been determined that the mother’s smoking or alcohol use during pregnancy, exposure to lead or various chemicals in the early years of life, low birth weight and bacterial infections (streptococcal infections have been reported to affect the basal ganglia by autoimmune mechanism in 2-3% of cases) cause attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. .
Generally, it is seen that the disease occurs as a result of the interaction of these genetic risk factors and environmental conditions.
Genetics and these factors that affect brain development at an early age, which regions of the brain affect the development of?
As we have presented the videos in my previous articles, the regions of the brain that undertake the executive functions are most affected. In brain imaging studies, it was found that 5 regions were affected the most.
Right anterior region (Orbitofrontal cortex)
Brain stem (Striatum and basal ganglia)
Cerebellum
Center that regulates emotional reactions (Anterior cingulate cortex )
Center (Corpus callosum) that provides information exchange between the right and left brain
Structural shrinkage returns to normal in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder at the age of 16-18 years. however, it has been determined that the functional (functioning, working) problems in these regions mostly continue.
If the formation of Attention Deficit is so biological (brain-based), can the problem be solved by finding genetic and harmful substances that cause it?
Many studies examining genetic and environmental causes to understand the formation process of the disease are still ongoing, I hope this conclusion can be reached as a result of these studies. At least in the next few years, it seems that the risk of the disease or the response of the individual to the drug will be learned by genetic examination. Perhaps in the coming years, drug and psychological treatment methods can be developed for this genetic infrastructure.
Best Regards
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