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Causes of Adult ADD

Adult Attention Deficient Disorder (ADD) is a condition characterized by symptoms of inattention, impulsively and over-activity. Although the exact causes of adult ADD remain unknown, theories exist about its origins. Some research findings relate ADD to chemical imbalances in brain chemistry, thus evidence exists to support the belief that ADD is a neurological disorder. Other theories point towards diet as the cause of various symptoms of ADD in adults. Still other theories hold that adult ADD has genetic origins.

  1. Neurological Theories

    • Neurotransmitters are chemicals found in the human brain that assist with brain functions related to the formation of thoughts, our ability to store and recall them, and the process of translating our thoughts into behavioral action. A positively correlated relationship has been discovered between two specific neurotransmitters, dopamine and acetylcholine, and symptoms of adult ADD.

    Dopamine

    • Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, memory and attentiveness in humans. The National Institute of Mental Health reports research findings siting 60 percent of persons diagnosed with ADD, as also having abnormal genetic makeup related to the production of dopamine. Scientist suspect low levels of dopamine as being a possible cause of ADD because symptoms of the disorder include difficulty with memory retention, and the ability to concentrate and focus. In general, dopamine is low in individuals who suffer from symptoms of ADD.

    Acetylcholine

    • Acetylcholine is another neurotransmitter commonly linked with the symptoms of ADD. Acetylcholine is a chemical necessary for the control of cognitive functions, such as perception, awareness, reasoning ability, judgment, attentiveness and memory recall. Acetylcholine is found to be low in sufferers of ADD, also pointing to brain chemistry imbalance as a major contributor to the disorder.

    Diet

    • According to Mental Health America, little scientific evidence supports environmental factors, such as diet, inner ear abnormalities or visual motor defects, as being underlying causes of adult ADD. However, symptoms of ADD can be reduced through dietary changes that decrease excessive sugar intake, and the presence of food dye from our diet. The ability to reduce ADD symptoms through diet changes indicates a cause and effect relationship between diet and control of ADD symptoms, even though diet does not appear to be an initial cause of the disorder. It is worth noting that even moderate changes in diet can be used to reduce symptoms of adult ADD.

    Heridity

    • The genetic gene pool may hold many answers to questions about the origins of adult ADD. According to the Institute of Mental Health, metabolic abnormalities producing neurological disorders may originate from problems related to prenatal development, much of which is hereditary in nature. Structural differences in brain size are also related to the disorder, as scientists have discovered that a small percentage of humans who suffer from adult ADD also have forebrains 10 percent smaller than those found in the general population, and in people who do not have ADD. These findings imply tendencies towards ADD present in the genetic makeup of those who have the disorder.

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