ADHD is related to genetic vulnerability and unhealthy food habits
Researchers from Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands have found that genetic factors play a more prominent role in ADHD symptoms with higher sugar intake and unhealthy foods.
Main content
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a common neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by symptoms as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. To get an ADHD diagnosis, these symptoms must lead to severe impairments in a person’s psychosocial functioning. Onset is in early childhood, but commonly persist into adulthood. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the risk of ADHD.
Twin study and G-E interaction
The purpose with this study was to investigate how dietary habits influences the magnitude of genetic and environmental contributions to ADHD in adults. The study was based on the Swedish population-based twin study, with 1518 twin pairs included, in age 20-47. Dietary habits and ADHD symptomps were collected by self-report. Twin methods were used to test the degree to which high-sugar and unhealthy food intake moderated the genetic and environmental influences on ADHD symptoms.
To better understand the complexity of genetic factors and environmental influences on ADHD symtoms, they used gene-environment (G x E) interactions as a framework. Environmental exposures can modify gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. Genetic risk variants associated with ADHD seem to have stronger impact on the presence of unfavorable environmental conditions.
The present study showed that genetic factors play a more prominent role in individual differences of ADHD symptoms with higher consumtion of high-sugar and unhealthy food. Future longitudinal studies with mutiple assessments of ADHD and nutritional habits are needed to replicate these findings.
