Tuning major gene variants conditioning human behavior: the anachronism of ADHD.
New findings suggest that attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral variant associated with a mental condition. ADHD prevalence reaches figures of 18% in populations worldwide. Furthermore, genetic variants conferring susceptibility to develop ADHD are not rare but very frequent and eventually totally fixed in some populations. These patterns of evolution can be associated with the fact that this behavioral trait had provided selective advantage. However, this behavioral trait is now under scrutiny because of new emerging social necessities. Recent molecular and clinical evidence supports Thom Hartmann's Hunter-Farmer theory, reaffirming that ADHD might be an anachronic behavioral trait.
Arcos-Burgos
Mauricio
M
Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1852, USA. marcosbu@mai.nih.gov
Acosta
Maria Teresa
MT
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001519:Behavior; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype