Some of the genetic variants implicated in ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) overlap with genes and nerve communication pathways that play a role in autism, a new study finds. The research may help to explain why people with ADHD, autism and other neuropsychiatric disorders sometimes have symptoms in common, such as impulsivity and restlessness, researchers said. Instead of finding one or more “ADHD” or “autism” genes, research is beginning to uncover neural pathways that influence the way a brain develops and works, said senior study author Dr. Russell Schachar, a senior scientist and child psychiatrist at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
