Smoking and ADHD ‘linked to same genetic risk factor’

A new UK study has revealed a potential genetic link between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and smoking habits later in life.

The Archives of Disease in Childhood paper has found that childhood ADHD patients with a high-risk C allele of the rs 1329650 genetic marker are more likely to become heavy smokers when they reach adulthood.

It was concluded that this genetic variation increases the risk of both conditions by prompting behaviours and impaired higher brain functions that are typical of childhood ADHD that also act as a gateway to smoking.

This research goes some way to explaining why many different behaviours and disorders co-occur commonly among different patients.

In an accompanying editorial, Dr Miriam Cooper and Professor Anita Thapar from Cardiff University School of Medicine said: "Acknowledging that the same genetic risk variants can have different observable effects in people could help inform discovery of risk variants for childhood developmental/psychiatric disorders."

ADHD is the most common behavioural disorder in the UK, according to NHS data, while smoking is responsible for one in every five deaths in adults aged over 35 in England.