Causes of Attention Deficit Disorder

What Do We Know About the Cause of Attention Deficit Disorder?

Unless you have it, you most likely never think about what causes Attention Deficit Disorder. But if you or your child or spouse has it, then no doubt you’d like some answers about the origin of this life-long condition.

In the not too distant past, there were some odd theories about the cause of Attention Deficit Disorder that have been completely discredited. The old theories suggested that this disorder resulted from a closed head injury, brain damage due to infections and/or birth complications, the consumption of too much sugar and food additives, too much TV watching, and that a major cause of Attention Deficit Disorder was poor parenting and/or a dysfunctional home environment. Today, these theories are almost laughable as they are so far off the mark. Exhaustive medical studies totally disprove them beyond any doubt.

Then What Does Cause Attention Deficit Disorder?

Medical researchers know what doesn’t cause Attention Deficit Disorder, but they’re still searching for what does cause it. Most scientists regard this condition as a neurobiological disorder, caused by abnormalities in the brain that are first detectable at about age seven via Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). MRI tests show that areas of the brain that control attention span and limit impulsive behavior are less active in people with this disorder. Thus, one cause of Attention Deficit Disorder could be distinct and measurable abnormalities of the brain structure.

MRI testing also indicates that some parts of the brain of children with the disorder are significantly smaller than in “normal” kids. This makes sense, because the smaller areas are the areas that regulate attention. What causes the shrinkage of these parts of the brain is still unknown.

Another possible cause of Attention Deficit Disorder could be genetically-based. The disorder seems to run in families. One important study indicated that about one-third of fathers who have the disorder have children with the same disorder.

In cases where the cause of Attention Deficit Disorder is not hereditary, other factors appear to play a part in its genesis such as difficulties in pregnancy, prenatal exposure to alcohol and/or tobacco, premature delivery, low birth rate, high bodily lead levels, and postnatal injury to the child’s prefrontal lobe. While these factors cannot be cited as an absolute cause of Attention Deficit Disorder, they have all been found to be risk factors for a child to develop the disorder.

Finally, another possible cause of Attention Deficit Disorder could be several defective genes that are supposed to regulate the neurotransmitter dopamine, but fail to do so. As a result of these defective genes, a child’s ability to govern emotions and movement are limited – both classic symptoms of the disorder.

Defective genes, brain structure defects, heredity; all are possible causes of Attention Deficit Disorder. Those who have it, or love someone who has it, continue to hope that an exact cause can eventually be found – and prevented.

  Causes of Attention Deficit Disorder