ADHD may be highly genetic but it shows up in different ways for different people.
Understanding more about your own patterns and behaviours can help you create a roadmap towards finding better balance.
Here are five of the areas where genes are likely to play a role:
1. Feeling wired but tired
Some people with ADHD feel switched on by pressure whilst others feel overwhelmed very quickly. You may cope brilliantly for hours or days, then suddenly crash.
Genes involved in stress-response pathways can give us clues about these differences. Certain genes help regulate the body’s response to cortisol for example, whilst others support adrenaline signalling.
Knowing your own gene variants can help you understand your body’s response to stress and explain why you might feel ‘wired but tired’ or struggle to switch off.
2. Seeking stimulation
ADHD is often talked about in terms of dopamine but dopamine is not one single system. Several genes influence different parts of the pathway.
That includes genes involved in dopamine production, dopamine receptors and genes that convert or break down dopamine. Learning about your genetic makeup can help you understand your own levels of motivation and attention, explaining more about the ways you seek stimulation or reward.
3. Sensory overwhelm
Some people with ADHD find it harder to move from the active into calm. They may feel overwhelmed by too much going on around them. They may struggle to relax or need extended recovery periods after a busy few days.
This is often linked to GABA, one of the brain’s main inhibitory neurotransmitters which helps provide the body’s signals that balance stimulation with calm.
Several genes are involved in GABA production or receptor signalling, so once you know about your own GABA production, it can provide insights into why you feel the way you do when the senses are overwhelmed.
4. Hormone fluctuations
Genes involved in hormone biology can give us another layer of information. They can help you understand why for many women, for example, ADHD doesn’t feel the same throughout the month or during different life stages.
Oestrogen and progesterone interact with genes involved in attention, mood and nervous-system regulation, including dopamine, serotonin and GABA.
These genes can’t predict your hormone levels or how your ADHD will change. But alongside your history of symptoms and shifts, they can help in exploring why you may experience things differently before your period, during or after pregnancy, and through menopause. This may make sense of changes in focus, mood, sleep, cravings and more.
5. Appetite and cravings
If eating becomes much harder when you’re tired, stressed or overwhelmed, there may be more going on than willpower. From appetite regulation to transporting glucose, various genes are involved in creating the signals your body needs for appetite regulation.
Understanding more about these can explain why you’re more likely to experience stronger cravings or afternoon crashes for example. Then add ADHD executive-function demands, sleep, hormones, medication and missed meals into the mix and the picture becomes much more personal. Knowing your own genes and your own triggers can be a starting point for a new pathway.
Ultimately your ADHD biological signature is only part of the picture but it can help you learn more about your experience around stress, dopamine, hormones and appetite and give you valuable information to support your own wellbeing journey.
To discover your own unique signature, book an ADHD DNA Map which includes an easy at-home DNA test kit with a simple swab, a personalised report covering all key pathways, a one-hour consultation to review your results in detail and a 30-minute follow-up session to provide personalised recommendations.
Book here
