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Evidence That ADHD Is a Genetic Disorder

sciencedaily.com

61–70 of 77 posts

Re: Evidence That ADHD Is a Genetic Disorder

#61
post #35

I'm 26, and I was diagnosed with ADD last year, at the suggestion of my dad, who was not diagnosed until his 40's. It took me almost a year to start actively researching ADD, because I grew up in an upper-middle-class community where it was primarily over-diagnosed in unmotivated kids whose parents were convinced that brain dysfunction was the only thing that could possibly keep their children from being A students.…

I literally double-checked to see if this was copy/pasted from an old post of mine. Getting treatment for ADHD changed my life for the better immediately and dramatically, as well. And I've even used the, "It's like putting on glasses for the first time" metaphor.

BTW, your website (http://mattdeboard.net) appears to be down. (Just FYI)

Re: Evidence That ADHD Is a Genetic Disorder

#62
post #6

Another popular (anecdotal) explanation why this disorder is more prevalent in America is that somehow the same genetic trait that motivated inviduals to pack up and move to another continent, when amplified (after hundreds of years) is somehow responsible for hyperactivity. Basically "the settlers were a restless folk" they all come to America and breed with each other, after hundreds of years you end up with a good…

Nahhh. I think it has more to do with people being dead poor in their own countries and is why they immigrated to America (Occam's Razor), better opportunities. It is still the reason why people come to America today. Also, too many people want to use disorders as an excuse for their lack of success. "See, is not me, I'm actually pretty smart, is this damn disorder that is holding me back. Not my fault."

Re: Evidence That ADHD Is a Genetic Disorder

#63
post #35

I'm 26, and I was diagnosed with ADD last year, at the suggestion of my dad, who was not diagnosed until his 40's. It took me almost a year to start actively researching ADD, because I grew up in an upper-middle-class community where it was primarily over-diagnosed in unmotivated kids whose parents were convinced that brain dysfunction was the only thing that could possibly keep their children from being A students.…

You said you got diagnosed on advice from your Dad, what exactly should somebody look for before they go to a doctor and get diagnosed? Are there any sure signs? How does somebody know that they're not just lazy or have a short-attention span.

Re: Evidence That ADHD Is a Genetic Disorder

#64
For me, ADHD isn't a disorder as much as a collection of personality traits. I have a bunch of traits I constantly have to look out for to ensure I complete work, and I've built a system so that I can cope really effectively, w/o medicine.

To argue that it's any other case is sorta weird.

Re: Evidence That ADHD Is a Genetic Disorder

#65
post #63
post #35

I'm 26, and I was diagnosed with ADD last year, at the suggestion of my dad, who was not diagnosed until his 40's. It took me almost a year to start actively researching ADD, because I grew up in an upper-middle-class community where it was primarily over-diagnosed in unmotivated kids whose parents were convinced that brain dysfunction was the only thing that could possibly keep their children from being A students.…

You said you got diagnosed on advice from your Dad, what exactly should somebody look for before they go to a doctor and get diagnosed? Are there any sure signs? How does somebody know that they're not just lazy or have a short-attention span.

My dad's advice was the last grain of rice. Getting diagnosed was the result of a long period of slowly accruing more information about the disorder. If you suspect you might have it, it's worth going to see a psychiatrist or psychologist; if you don't really have that kind of time or cash, then buy or borrow "Driven to Distraction", which has a section devoted to figuring out whether you have it.

Even if you don't, reading the book will probably still give you some insight into your own personal habits!

Re: Evidence That ADHD Is a Genetic Disorder

#66
post #64

For me, ADHD isn't a disorder as much as a collection of personality traits. I have a bunch of traits I constantly have to look out for to ensure I complete work, and I've built a system so that I can cope really effectively, w/o medicine. To argue that it's any other case is sorta weird.

I don't think "disorder" and "collection of personality traits" are mutually exclusive terms.

Re: Evidence That ADHD Is a Genetic Disorder

#67
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Are you familiar with street meth? Ritlain/Adderall are pharma grade long duration forms of that." No they're not, you apparently don't have a clue about the pharmacological aspects of Ritalin. To all intelligent readers: please ignore the trolls in this thread, there is a small but vocal group of opponents who build careers out of applying to parents' feelings of fear of medications and the guild of having their ch…

Dextroamphetamine is a psychostimulant drug which is known to produce increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and decreased appetite. Drugs with similar psychoactive properties can be referred to or described as "amphetamine analogues", "amphetamine-like", or having "amphetaminergic" effects. Enantiomerically pure dextroamphetamine is more potent than racemic amphetamine and has stimulan…

Right, and Wikipedia exactly proves my point! Ritalin != 'a more potent form of crystal meth'. Yes it's chemically related, and yes it has in the abstract and in people who do not have ADHD similar effects, but no it's not the same. H1N1 and seasonal flu are both influenza strains, except that one kills tens or hundreds of millions over a few years and the other one everyone gets once every few years and shrugs it off with a few days in bed. Does that mean that they're all the same?

Re: Evidence That ADHD Is a Genetic Disorder

#68
post #66
post #64

For me, ADHD isn't a disorder as much as a collection of personality traits. I have a bunch of traits I constantly have to look out for to ensure I complete work, and I've built a system so that I can cope really effectively, w/o medicine. To argue that it's any other case is sorta weird.

I don't think "disorder" and "collection of personality traits" are mutually exclusive terms.

I guess to be more specific: I don't think this should be treated as a medical condition. I'm in the Temple Grandin camp of neurodiversity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurodiversity

Re: Evidence That ADHD Is a Genetic Disorder

#69
post #6

Another popular (anecdotal) explanation why this disorder is more prevalent in America is that somehow the same genetic trait that motivated inviduals to pack up and move to another continent, when amplified (after hundreds of years) is somehow responsible for hyperactivity. Basically "the settlers were a restless folk" they all come to America and breed with each other, after hundreds of years you end up with a good…

Nahhh. I think it has more to do with people being dead poor in their own countries and is why they immigrated to America (Occam's Razor), better opportunities. It is still the reason why people come to America today. Also, too many people want to use disorders as an excuse for their lack of success. "See, is not me, I'm actually pretty smart, is this damn disorder that is holding me back. Not my fault."

The overwhelming majority of "dead poor" people still wouldn't leave their home country. Most people have very, very strong ties to friends, family and familiarity and have great difficulty with the concept of uprooting thier life, no matter how bad, in such a manner.

Re: Evidence That ADHD Is a Genetic Disorder

#70
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I literally double-checked to see if this was copy/pasted from an old post of mine. Getting treatment for ADHD changed my life for the better immediately and dramatically, as well. And I've even used the, "It's like putting on glasses for the first time" metaphor.

BTW, your website ( http://mattdeboard.net ) appears to be down. (Just FYI)

Yeah thanks, I need to tweak apache workers
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