Autism and ADHD Share Genetic Similarities - featured August 11, 2011
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Similar genetic changes found in some people with ADHD and in some with autism may help explain why children with the hyperactivity disorder often have symptoms of other developmental disorders, a new study reports.
The study identified several genetic changes that are present in a small portion of both attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients and autism patients, and that are absent in people without these disorders.
Although it has been known that some autism and ADHD patients have certain rare genes in common, this is the first study "to compare the two conditions head to head, in an identical way," said study researcher Russell Schachar, senior scientist of psychiatry at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
In addition to finding a genetic overlap between the conditions, the study identified several genes not previously known to be involved in ADHD.
The research was published online today (Aug. 10) in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Read the Rest of this Article on Yahoo.com
Similar genetic changes found in some people with ADHD and in some with autism may help explain why children with the hyperactivity disorder often have symptoms of other developmental disorders, a new study reports.
The study identified several genetic changes that are present in a small portion of both attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients and autism patients, and that are absent in people without these disorders.
Although it has been known that some autism and ADHD patients have certain rare genes in common, this is the first study "to compare the two conditions head to head, in an identical way," said study researcher Russell Schachar, senior scientist of psychiatry at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
In addition to finding a genetic overlap between the conditions, the study identified several genes not previously known to be involved in ADHD.
The research was published online today (Aug. 10) in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Read the Rest of this Article on Yahoo.com
