Dysfunctional gene linked to ADHD found

Dysfunction in a gene that can lead to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression has been identified.

People with attention deficits have difficulty focussing and often display compulsive behaviour. The study suggests that these symptoms could be due to dysfunction in ErbB4 gene, that helps different brain regions communicate.

ErbB4 is also a risk factor for psychiatric disorders and is required to maintain healthy neurotransmitter levels in the brain. “And since ErbB4 is a risk factor for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression, the results provide insights into mechanisms of these disorders,” said Lin Mei, Professor Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland.

In the findings, published in the journal Neuron, researchers showed mice lacking ErbB4 activity in specific brain regions performed poorly on timed attention tasks.

Without ErbB4, neurotransmitter levels go awry.