Background
Neurocognitive deficits associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
might be useful intermediate endophenotypes for determining specific genetic pathways
that contribute to ADHD.
Methods
This study administered 17 measures from prominent neuropsychological theories of
ADHD (executive function, processing speed, arousal regulation and, motivation/delay
aversion) in dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs discordant for ADHD and control twin pairs
(ages 8–18 years) to compare performance between twins affected with ADHD (n = 266),
their unaffected co-twins (n = 228), and control children from twin pairs without
ADHD or learning difficulties (n = 332).
Results
The ADHD subjects show significant impairment on executive function, processing speed,
and response variability measures compared with control subjects. Unaffected co-twins
of ADHD subjects are significantly impaired on nearly all the same measures as their
ADHD siblings, even when subclinical symptoms of ADHD are controlled.
Conclusions
Executive function, processing speed, and response variability deficits might be useful
endophenotypes for genetic studies of ADHD.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 25, 2007
Accepted:
April 4,
2007
Received in revised form:
April 3,
2007
Received:
December 5,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
