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[Attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity: a pattern of evolution?]
Revista De Neurologia
|March 5, 2010
Summary
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a common condition, may offer evolutionary advantages due to its association with positively selected genes. This suggests ADHD could enhance reproductive fitness despite individual challenges.
Area of Science:
- Genetics and Evolutionary Biology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Context:
- Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects 5-10% of the population.
- The seven-repeat allele of DRD4, associated with ADHD, shows evidence of positive selection in human evolution.
Purpose:
- To explore the hypothesis that ADHD confers evolutionary advantages.
- To examine the relationship between ADHD, gene selection, and reproductive fitness.
- To discuss the prevalence, age, and sex distributions of ADHD's heterogeneity.
Summary:
- Genes with population frequencies >1% are considered positively selected, not random mutations.
- The high prevalence and specific genetic associations of ADHD suggest a potential role in enhancing individual or group reproductive fitness.
- ADHD's diversity may provide population-level benefits, similar to immunity.
Impact:
- This perspective challenges the view of ADHD solely as a disorder, proposing potential societal benefits.
- Understanding the evolutionary context of ADHD could inform future research and therapeutic strategies.
- Altered gene combinations, as seen in ADHD, might offer societal advantages at the cost of individual detriment.
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