Assortative mating and intergenerational transmission of ADHD

ADHD is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning. Previous twin and family studies have shown moderate estimates of heritability for adult ADHD and... [ view full abstract ]

ADHD is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning. Previous twin and family studies have shown moderate estimates of heritability for adult ADHD and high estimates of heritability of child ADHD. However, there is to date comparatively little knowledge on to what extent assortative mating on adult ADHD traits could change the genetic variation in the offspring generation.

By using the Intergenerational Transmission of Risk (IToR) study, a twin-family subsample of the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study,we will estimate the extent of assortative mating in adult ADHD. What is more, we will estimate the impact of assortative mating on, one, the heritability of adult ADHD, two, the heritability of child ADHD, and, three, the genetic transmission of adult ADHD to child ADHD. To estimate such parameters, we will apply an extended children of twin model on the IToR dataset comprising a large number of sibling/twinfamilies.

If there is a strong assortative mating on adult ADHD, this could alter the prevalence and heritability in the offspring generation. What is more, the results will inform on the biological underpinnings of the similar phenomena of adult and child ADHD.