Study Finds Dysfunction in Brain's Receptor System May Cause ADHD
Neuroscientists from The Mayo Clinic in Florida have discovered that a miswiring of the brain could be to blame for ADHD. Marked by developmentally inappropriate impulsivity and inattention, children with ADHD have a difficult time performing well in a typical classroom environment. As a result, overmedication can occur in an effort to control their behavior. To better address the symptoms of ADHD, it's important to understand what's happening in the brain.
The study uncovers that dysfunction in the neural contacts of dopaminergic neurons may be implicated in the development of ADHD. These neurons regulate the brain’s reward system including pleasure, motivation, and cognition.
“This miswiring of dopaminergic neurons in mice results in hyperactivity and attention deficits,” says the study’s senior investigator, Anders Nykjaer, M.D., Ph.D., a neuroscientist at Mayo Clinic in Florida and at Aarhus University in Denmark.
“A number of studies have reported that ADHD patients commonly exhibit miswiring in this brain area, accompanied by altered dopaminergic function. We may now have an explanation as to why ADHD risk genes have been linked to regulation of neuronal growth,” he says.
This study further supports our contention that neuro-behavioral disorders like ADHD are the result of an imbalance in the connections and function between and within the hemispheres of the brain. The good news is the brain can improve and change throughout a person’s lifetime. This phenomenon, called neuroplasticity, is at the heart of the Brain Balance Program®. If your child with ADHD could benefit from increased attention and focus, better social skills, and academic improvement, contact us today!
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