Research into ADHD
At
Trinity College, Dublin.
Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience
-from molecules to mind-
-from molecules to mind-
The ADHD research group at Trinity College Dublin has been investigating the genetic and behavioural aspects of the disorder over the last decade. Both genetic and behavioural studies have been very successful in furthering our understanding of ADHD. The genetic studies have identified subtle changes that might increase the risk of ADHD. The behavioural studies have investigated how children and adults differ with ADHD differ from other people in attentional control, timing estimation, spatial perception and reaction time.
We have combined the genetic and behavioural studies to investigate how children with ADHD with particular genetic make-ups differ on the different behavioural task.
What we understand so far
ADHD is a complex disorder. We think there are a number of genes that are involved in the disorder and there may be a complex interaction between particular genes (gene by gene interaction) and between particular genes and the environment (gene by environment interaction).
Neurotransmitters
The cause of ADHD has been linked with the brain’s chemical system. The brain uses multiple chemical substances for operation, regulation and communication. These chemicals are called “neurotransmitters”, serve various functions in the brain. The neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin and noradrenalin have been linked to behavioural and emotional conditions and may play a key role in ADHD.
Behavioural:
An association has been found between performance on a sustained attention task and possession of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) in children with ADHD. Dopamine is a hormone in the brain involved in a variety of functions, including attention, movement, pleasure and motivation. Previous work had found an association between possession of a common genetic variation in the DAT1 gene and ADHD. Children who possessed two copies of the DAT1 performed the sustained attention tasks with more errors than children who possessed only one or no copies of the risk allele.
The ADHD Research team at Trinity College
Professor Ian Robertson, Professor Michael Gill, Professor Michael Fitzgerald, Professor Hugh Garavan, Dr. Mark Bellgrove, Dr. Katherine Johnson, Dr. Wouter Braet, Dr. Aisling Mulligan, Dr. Edwina Barry, Ms. Ruth Acheson and Ms. Claire Tobin.
Will there be any benefit of this research to my child or me?
The long terms goal of our research is to understand the brain mechanisms that are involved in ADHD in the hope that we can develop treatment programmes for the disorder.
Having said this, we are able to provide your family with feedback from the assessments that we conduct with your child. Since many of the assessments that we will administer are standardised, this means that we can tell you whether the performance of your child on these assessments is average, or above or below average for their age. This would include assessments of Spelling and Reading, of Achievement (often assessed using IQ tests) and of Attention. In the past families have found this feedback useful.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
We have recently installed the much-anticipated MRI scanner into the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience building on campus. This is a high-tech scanner, with which we are able to image a child’s brain as s/he performs attentional and movement tasks. This procedure is extremely safe. The child will be sent a CD with an image of his/her brain shortly after the scan.
Would you like to take part?
If you would be interested in learning more about research into ADHD then please contact Claire Tobin and Ruth Acheson on 01 8963835 or Dr. Johnson and Dr. Braet on 01 8968403.
The exact study that your child would become involved in would depend upon the number of children that we have already recruited for that particular study. Naturally, expressing an interest in taking part in no way obligates you to participate in the study it just indicates your willingness to discuss the matter further.
