Understanding neurodivergence
Articles based on published research: ADHD, autism, dyslexia, mood, sleep, and what actually helps.
When Do Autism and Schizophrenia Begin? A Study of 1,000 Brains Points to the Months Before Birth
A University of Exeter team mapped the chemical switches on DNA in nearly 1,000 human brains, from six weeks after conception to 108 years. Most of the change happens before birth, and the genes linked to autism and schizophrenia are right in the middle of it. What that means, and what it does not.
ADHD Genes Beyond Dopamine: The Six Brain Pathways a 2022 Review Maps, and Why They All Lead Back to Dopamine
A viral post says the genes linked to ADHD fall into six neurotransmitter pathways. The review behind it is real. Here is what each pathway does, which genes are involved, why heritability is about 76%, and what a consumer DNA file can and cannot tell you.
1 Million Genomes, 1,260 Variants, and DNA Still Explains Under 10% of Your Personality
The largest genetic study of personality ever published found over 1,000 variants. It also found that common DNA explains only 5 to 9% of each trait. Here is what that means if you have a raw DNA file.
That "Genetics of ADHD" Wheel Going Viral: What the Research Actually Supports
A DNA-test company's infographic pairs 20 specific genes with specific nutrients for ADHD. We checked the research behind each claim. Here is what holds up.
ADHD Genes & Dopamine: DRD4, DRD2, DAT1 - and Can a DNA Test Detect Them?
The main genes linked to ADHD, what they do, and the honest truth about whether 23andMe or AncestryDNA can detect them.
Mental Health
Epigenetics and Mental Health: Can Trauma Be Written Into Our Genes?
Trauma, stress and environment do not change your DNA sequence, but they can change how your genes are switched on or off. Here is what the latest research says about epigenetics, PTSD, depression, schizophrenia and ADHD, and what it does not say.
MTHFR Mutation and ADHD: What Your 23andMe Results Might Reveal
Thousands search for the link between MTHFR variants and ADHD every month. Here is the honest, science-backed answer - and what your 23andMe or AncestryDNA data can actually tell you.
The DNA-ADHD Connection: What Your Genes Reveal
New research links 200+ genetic variants to ADHD. What does your DNA say about your attention?
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