ADHD is one of the most heritable conditions in psychiatry - around 70-80%. But there is no single "ADHD gene": it is polygenic, meaning hundreds of small genetic variations combine, most of them affecting how the brain uses dopamine. Here are the most studied genes - and the honest answer to whether a consumer DNA test can actually detect them.
1. DRD4 - dopamine D4 receptor
Codes for a dopamine receptor involved in reward, motivation and motor control. Its famous 7-repeat variant has been linked to ADHD traits and lower responsiveness to some medications (Tovo-Rodrigues et al., 2013).
2. DRD2 / ANKK1 - dopamine D2 receptor
Mediates brain plasticity, memory and exploratory behaviour. Variants near DRD2 (such as the ANKK1 Taq1A marker) shape dopamine signalling and reward sensitivity (Mariggio et al., 2021).
3. DAT1 / SLC6A3 - dopamine transporter
Recycles dopamine back into neurons and is highly expressed in the prefrontal cortex; variation can affect executive function (Hasler et al., 2015).
4. COMT - dopamine clean-up
Breaks down dopamine in the prefrontal cortex. The well-known rs4680 (Val158Met) variant affects how fast you clear dopamine, influencing working memory and attention switching.
5. TPH2 and beyond - it is polygenic
Other genes (like TPH2, linked to serotonin) also contribute. The key point: no single variant defines ADHD, and genetics is not destiny (Kessi et al., 2022; Faraone et al., 2021).
Do 23andMe, AncestryDNA or MyHeritage test these genes?
Partly. These services use SNP genotyping chips that read hundreds of thousands of single-letter variants. Some ADHD-related SNPs are included - for example COMT (rs4680) and the ANKK1/DRD2 marker (rs1800497) are commonly present in raw data. However, the two most famous ADHD variants - the DRD4 7-repeat and the DAT1 40-base-pair repeat - are repeat-length polymorphisms (VNTRs), which SNP chips generally do NOT genotype. So you usually will not find those exact repeats in a 23andMe or Ancestry file.
Can you check this on Find your neurotype?
Yes - for the markers your file contains. Our Free DNA Neuro Analyzer reads your raw DNA file (23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage and others) and looks for dopamine-related markers it supports, including COMT (rs4680), DRD2/ANKK1 (rs1800497), a DRD4 SNP (rs1800955) and SLC6A3 markers. It needs at least a few of these present to produce a result. Your file is processed in your browser and is not stored.
Want the behavioural side too? Combine it with our free ADHD screening test (ASRS-v1.1) - DNA indicators plus a validated questionnaire give a far richer picture than either alone.
References: Tovo-Rodrigues L et al. (2013), PLoS One. | Mariggio MA et al. (2021), Front Neurosci. | Hasler R et al. (2015), Neurol Sci. | Kessi M et al. (2022), Front Mol Neurosci. | Faraone SV et al. (2021), World Federation of ADHD. Genetic variants are risk indicators only - not a diagnosis.
Related: a 2022 review maps ADHD genes across six neurotransmitter pathways, not just dopamine. ADHD genes beyond dopamine.