Causes

**CAUSES OF ADHD** Scientists are not sure what actually causes ADHD, although many believe that genes play a major role in determining ADHD. In addition to genetics, researchers have been looking into environmental factors, brain injuries, nutrition, and the social environment contribute to ADHD. __**GENES**__

Genes are blueprints of who we are and these genes are hereditary from our parents. Researches are researching the gene that makes it more likely for someone to develop the disorder. Knowing this information may help researches prevent the disorder before symptoms develop.

__**ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS **__ Some studies suggest that when heredity is not involved there could be a link between cigarette smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy and children with ADHD. Also if children are exposed to high levels of lead at an early age they have a higher risk of developing ADHD.

__**BRAIN INJURY**__Children with a brain injury in the prefrontal region of the brain may show some symptoms of ADHD in the future. However, a very small percentage of children with ADHD have had a traumatic brain injury.

__**SUGAR **__Research does not support the popular belief that large sugar intake causes ADHD. Although it could aggrevate the symptoms it is not considered a cause for ADHD.