AN OVERVIEW OF THE CAUSATIVE RISK FACTORS OF ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER AMONG CHILDREN

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a complicated disorder that affects childrens cognition and behavior. The exact cause of ADHD is not known however, multiple risk factors may be involved. This study aims to provide an overview of the different risk factors involved in the development of ADHD through reviewing and summarizing all recently published researches in this respect. Multiple factors were evaluated to find out their relation to ADHD. Various genetic loci and mutations were found to be linked to ADHD susceptibility. Environmental factors as prenatal smoking, maternal obesity, vitamin D and minerals deficiencies, birth-related problems, pesticides, and lead exposure, artificial food coloring, and sugar consumption were investigated and proven to increase ADHD. Structural brain abnormalities and traumatic brain injury were also involved as risk factors of ADHD. Although the exact causes of ADHD are not discovered, multiple genetic, environmental and structural brain abnormalities proved to play a role in ADHD development. Mutations in Latrophilin 3 (LPHN3) gene linked with increase ADHD susceptibility. Reduced gray matter volume may contribute to ADHD development. Sugar consumption and artificial food colorings increase hyperactivity in both ADHD and normal children.