Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder - Causes



The causes of ADHD are not known. Some people believe that an imbalance in neurotransmitters causes the disorder. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry messages from one part of the brain to another. Damage to neurotransmitters can be caused by a number of factors. For example, a head injury can damage the brain cells that produce neurotransmitters. Children who are exposed to toxins (poisons) early in life may experience similar brain cell damage.

Heredity also seems to play a role in ADHD. Studies show that children born to people who have the disorder tend to inherit the disorder.

Some medical authorities have suggested that diet may be a factor in causing ADHD. For example, a high intake of sugar was once thought to be a possible cause of the disorder. Today, that explanation for ADHD is no longer accepted. Dietary factors do not seem to be responsible for ADHD.

Conduct disorder:
A behavioral and emotional disorder of childhood and adolescence. Children with a conduct disorder act inappropriately, infringe on the rights of others, and violate social rules.
Nervous tic:
An involuntary action, continually repeated, such as the twitching of a muscle or repeated blinking.

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