New Study Identifies Brain Patterns Linked to Genetic Risk for ADHD
Researchers identified reproducible brain-imaging patterns associated with genetic risk for ADHD. The illustration is representative and does not show the study’s actual results. Image Source: iflsscience
The research published in Nature Mental Health provides evidence of a relationship between genes and brain function. This is reflected in the finding that brain-imaging patterns are associated with genetic markers linked to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
In the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, researchers analysed genetic and brain-imaging data from 6,001 participants. They used computational techniques to analyse MRI data and identify patterns associated with ADHD polygenic risk scores, which reflect the combined effects of multiple genetic variants.
The patterns were found mainly in two important areas: hubs in the brain's cognitive control network, which helps regulate attention and behaviour, and midbrain nuclei involved in dopamine signalling, which is linked to motivation, learning and aspects of attention. Differences in brain activity and grey-matter volume contributed to the identified signatures.
The researchers found that the patterns were reproducible across groups defined by sex and ancestry. Comparisons involving 11 psychiatric disorders also suggested that the patterns were relatively specific to ADHD. Additionally, the patterns helped predict levels of inattention and hyperactivity in the main cohort and an independent dataset.
The findings do not point to one specific part of the brain as the cause of ADHD. Instead, they show that several brain networks may be linked to genetic risk for the condition and related behaviours.
The study doesn't show that these brain differences cause ADHD, and the findings aren't ready to be used for diagnosis, so more research is needed. For now, the results offer further insight into the complexity of ADHD.
References
Shan, X., et al. (2026). ADHD polygenic risk converges on reproducible neuroimaging signatures predicting core behavioral phenotypes. Nature Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-026-00720-7