Co‐occurrence of ADHD and low IQ has genetic origins
Abstract
Previous studies show that the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and lower intelligence quotient (IQ) covary in children. We investigated the aetiology of this association in a large population‐based sample of 5‐year‐old twins. The twins were individually assessed on an IQ test, and data on ADHD symptoms were obtained from mother interviews and teacher ratings. Confirming previous studies, the phenotypic correlation between ADHD symptom scores and IQ was −0.3 and, in a categorical analysis, children with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM‐IV) ADHD research diagnosis obtained IQ scores nine points lower, on average, than comparison children. We show here that the co‐occurrence of ADHD and lower IQ has genetic origins: 86% of the association between ADHD symptom scores and IQ, and 100% of the association between ADHD diagnosis and IQ, was accounted for by genetic influences that are shared by ADHD and IQ. Some candidate genes for ADHD could also contribute to variation in IQ or vice versa. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
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The association between ADHD and lower IQ is based predominantly on genetic influences rather than environmental effects.
“Kuntsi et al. [58] found that the association between ADHD and lower IQ is based predominantly on genetic influences rather than environmental effects.”
From Assessing ADHD symptoms in children and adults: evaluating the role of objective measures (2018) · cites this paper as [58]
A previous study in this cohort identified a heritability of ADHD symptoms at age 5 of 74%.
“A previous study in this cohort identified a heritability of ADHD symptoms at age 5 of 74%.”
From Evaluation of the persistence, remission, and emergence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in young adulthood (2016) · cites this paper as [23]
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- Authors
- Kuntsi, J., Eley, T. C., Taylor, A., Hughes, C., Asherson, P., Caspi, A., & Moffitt, T. E.
- Affiliations
- King's College London (GB)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Moffitt, T.E.
- Venue
- American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2003-07-28
- Volume
- 124B
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 41-47
- ISSN
- 1552-4841 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-485X
- OpenAlex
- W2114627345
- Cited by
- 267
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 4.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B Neuropsychiatric Genetics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Royal Society
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Keywords
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, low IQ, intelligence quotient, genetic correlation, heritability, twin studies, shared genetic influences, ADHD symptoms, candidate genes
- MeSH terms
- Analysis of Variance, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Intelligence, Intelligence Tests, Male, Models, Genetic, Phenotype, Twins, Dizygotic, Twins, Monozygotic
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