ADHD is not Hereditary
The argument that because ADHD tends to run in families, it is of genetic origin, is poorly thought out. Let me explain. Those who argue that ADHD is hereditary will point out that one or more, usually male, ancestors of the patient also showed ADHD symptoms. Thus, they demonstrate a correlation between ADHD symptoms across generations. But correlation is not causation. For example, there is a strong correlation between the midsummer pavement temperature in New York City and the banana crop in Brazil. I'm sure that hot asphalt in New York has nothing to do with making bananas grow faster Brazil. However, both are caused by a third factor, warmer weather.
Likewise, the relationship of ADHD behavior across generations is due to a simpler cause than genetics; learning. If your father and grandfather were Democrats, Catholics and spoke English you have a much greater than chance probability of being a Democrat, Catholic and speaking English. Nobody would suggest that the three variables were genetically driven, even though each of them is far more complex than ADHD. However, on the same evidence some would suggest that ADHD is genetically driven. Be clear, I am not saying that there is proof that ADHD is not genetically related. I'm just saying that the evidence that is commonly cited is meaningless. Thus, at least on the basis solely of correlation (dad and son both have attention deficit disorder for example), we have no reason to claim a genetic causation.
One of the precepts of modern science is that an explanation should be no more complex than is necessary to account for the observations. This is known as Occam’s razor, after William of Occam (1284-1347), an English philosopher and theologian.
Isaac Newton's statement of the Occam’s principal is probably the best so far:
"We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances."
In the current case, since hypothesizing a neurological basis for attention deficit disorder does not add to the explanation of the facts observed, it is superfluous and should be deleted from the explanation.
Bolstering that argument is the fact that my treatment regularly creates very dramatic improvements in attention deficit disorder symptoms in both children and adults, without any medications. I am not a brain surgeon, nor am I a genetic reengineer. All I am able to change is the patient’s emotional response to their world, and specifically to tasks that they dislike. For me, this is an excellent argument that attention deficit disorder is not the result of any physical brain anomaly but is simply a learned defense system against disliked tasks.
These and other interesting ideas are explained in more depth in my books, ADHD: Drug-free and Doin' Fine and ADHD: A Path to Success. Information on my perception of attention deficit disorder and its drug-free treatment treatment can be found on my website, www.caer.com.
ADHD is not a Neurological Disorder
Brain Scans do NOT prove ADHD is Neurological
ADHD is a Learned Defense System
Medicating Young Minds
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