ADHD Genetics: Heredity vs. Determinism

The article analyzes the biological basis of ADHD, emphasizing the difference between high heritability (approx. 74%) and genetic determinism. The author explains that ADHD does not result from a single 'disease gene' but possesses a polygenic architecture—it is the effect of the interaction of thousands of small DNA variants and their interplay with the environment. Using data from GWAS studies and twin analyses, the text debunks the myth of a genetic sentence, proposing an orchestra metaphor instead of a 'broken part' model. It is emphasized that although biological kinship significantly increases the risk of the disorder, the final neurodevelopmental phenotype is shaped in a dynamic process of organism development and environmental influence.