Cause Of ADHD Research

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), though a disorder with a substantial amount of research surrounding it, remains in part a mystery. As research and scientists suggest, the actual cause of ADHD is unknown (“Facts About ADHD,” n.d.). While in this uncertain state of what results in ADHD, the trend of speculating probable causes has grown, and researchers have discovered several likely contributors. As investigators continue to conduct research, the distance from the truth of the real cause of the disorder shrinks. Among the most prominent, research indicates that the most probable causes of ADHD are genetics, environmental factors, brain injuries, nutrition, and brain chemistry. Though not the sole cause of one having ADHD,
MyADHD (n.d.) asserts that “injury to the brain can be the result of trauma (serious blow to the head), brain tumor, stroke or disease…[that] can result in a diagnosis of ADHD”, even though it is uncommon (“Causes of ADHD”). Since, as Medline Plus (2014) alleges, “only a small percentage of children with ADHD have suffered a traumatic brain injury”, it seems like an unlikely contributor, but that does not make it irrelevant in the search for the real cause (“Causes of ADHD”). As not all children experience a head injury, people can overlook this contributor of ADHD since it is not as common as others. However, in a period during which the disorder’s true cause is unknown, investigators should consider even the most seemingly insignificant factors. Hence, research demonstrates that though uncommon, brain injuries help cause ADHD, which only assists in discovering more links to the definite cause of
As proposed by ADHD and You (n.d.), “ADHD is thought to be caused by an imbalance of two chemical messengers, or neurotransmitters, in the brain” (“Possible Causes of ADHD”). Regarding this assertion, the research is advocating that the way that one’s brain functions plays a role in leading to ADHD. Specifically, “certain regions of the prefrontal cortex…that control attention, behavior, and judgment…may not function properly in people with ADHD.” With this research suggesting that the brains of individuals with ADHD do not always function properly, brain chemistry proves to be a prominent contributing factor of the disorder. On WebMD’s page concerning the causes of ADHD, it declares that “the brain chemical dopamine may also play a role [since] it carries signals between nerves in the brain and is linked to movement, sleep, mood, attention, and learning” (“Attention Deficit,” n.d.). In the event of someone’s brain having differing levels of dopamine, the information provided by WebMD offers a link to ADHD. These examples plainly signify the likely contribution of brain chemistry to causing someone to have ADHD and convincingly exemplify the value of their investigation to find the true cause of the