Affiliation:
1. Lovely Professional University, India
Abstract
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a common neuro-behavioral disorder, affects children at an early age and its symptoms may continue in adults. The disorder impacts the individual's social as well as academic development. The multifactorial nature of ADHD is likely due to the combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. Family history poses a great risk for ADHD development and is known to involve genes that regulate neurotransmitters associated with attention, impulses, and behavior. Maternal smoking during pregnancy, metal ion and toxin exposure and traumatic brain injury are some of the environmental factors that increase the risk of ADHD. Further, brain imaging studies in ADHD have shown altered structure and brain activity specifically in the prefrontal cortex. Reduced prefrontal cortex volume and altered brain connections in ADHD patients result in impulsivity, poor behavioral control, and difficulty in maintaining attention. Although with no cure, ADHD can be successfully managed, and some symptoms may improve as the child ages.