| A genetic test for ADHD cannot be far off. Very | | | | are associated with response to stimulant medication." |
| soon, those of us being diagnosed with ADHD will go | | | | Today, most patients with inattentive ADHD are tried |
| to our doctor's office, the lab tech or nurse will take a | | | | on stimulant medication. In many patients, the |
| swab of the inside of our cheek and a week later we | | | | medication helps tremendously but in others it provides |
| will not only have a diagnosis but we will also have an | | | | no therapeutic effect. A test for this gene would give |
| answer regarding what type of treatment would work | | | | us information regarding the likely response to |
| best for us. | | | | stimulants or other medications. |
| In the February of 2010 edition of the Journal, Molecular | | | | As hard as it is for me to believe, there are still people |
| Psychiatry, the National Human Genome Research | | | | who doubt the existence of ADHD. They blame |
| Institute, of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda | | | | parents for not discipline their children and think that we |
| Maryland, made an amazing announcement. They | | | | have made up a disease because of our unwillingness |
| reported that they had discovered a gene that not | | | | to hold our children accountable for their actions. There |
| only predicted individuals who would be susceptible to | | | | are other people who feel that stimulant medicine is |
| ADHD but that also forecasted the ADHD patients | | | | am extreme measure and will only use this medication |
| that would have a positive response to stimulant | | | | if it is 'proven' to be useful. |
| medication. | | | | The studies that have come out of the genome |
| According to the journal, studies performed on over | | | | project are moving us closer to a lab test that will not |
| 2500 individuals with ADHD and over 2500 controls | | | | only provide 'proof' that a diagnosis of ADHD is real |
| revealed that the LPHN3 gene is "expressed in key | | | | but more importantly it will allow for the appropriate |
| brain regions related to attention and activity, affect | | | | treatment of thousands of people affected by the |
| metabolism in neural circuits implicated in ADHD, and | | | | symptoms of ADHD. |