IMAGE1-FollowUp
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), characterized by severe age-inappropriate
levels of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention, is one of the most prevalent child
psychiatric disorders. Increased prevalence of ADHD among family members of ADHD
patients and high heritability rates are frequently reported, but developmental pathways to the
phenotype, influenced by environmental and genetic factors are not well understood.
Moreover, very little is known about the factors responsible for the remission of ADHD into
adulthood, which is expected in about half of the cases. There is some evidence that ADHD is
probably associated with dysfunctions in fronto-striatal networks that control attention and
response organization.
In a recent study with nearly 100 families with at least one child with ADHD and 40 control
families, our group found evidence that behavioral and electrophysiological parameters of
cognitive control, response preparation and error processing are familially driven and may
thus represent endophenotypes on the pathway from genes and environmental risk factors to
behaviour. For the current study, these families will be reassessed seven years after the first
study in order to test the developmental stability and variability of these parameters and their
association with the ADHD status. Additionally, changes in epigenetic regulation of key
genomic functions may play an important role in the development and remission of ADHD.
The study may provide new insights into the development of ADHD into young adulthood,
and may help to identify ADHD subgroups that differ in later outcome.
1
The International Multi-center ADHD Gene Study was a European multi-site project,
conducted 2004-2006 with more than 1000 families with at least one child with ADHD.
Aim of this study was the whole genome association analysis of ADHD in addition to the
neuropsychological and physiological assessment of cognitive, affective and motivational
processes. It was supported by National Institute of Mental Health Grant R01MH062873 to
Stephen V. Faraone.