ADHD & Autism may share common aetiology
Recently a lot of studies have come out questioning whether these are two distinct diagnoses or actually a broad category with different dimensions.
Twin studies have highlighted recently just how common the co-occurrence of both ADHD and Autism seems to be – and it may be clinically looking at them has under estimated how close these are to each other. There’s been some other evidence in neuroscience too, but it’s a lot less replicable at this point.
The pattern of association across different types of relatives supports the existence of genetic overlap between clinically ascertained ASD and ADHD, suggesting that genomic studies might have underestimated this overlap.
The familial co-aggregation of ASD and ADHD: a register-based cohort study
We found evidence for dimension-specific phenotypic and aetiological overlap between ADHD and ASD traits in adults. Future studies investigating mechanisms underlying comorbidity between ADHD and ASD may benefit from exploring several symptom-dimensions, rather than considering only broad diagnostic categories.
Genetic and environmental contribution to the overlap between ADHD and ASD trait dimensions in young adults: a twin study
The majority (11 out of 14 studies) of available twin studies categorized as neurodevelopmental reported estimates between ADHD and ASD symptoms, with estimates ranging from rg = .22 to .88. For the meta-analysis, … a forest plot of 11 independent studies with a pooled estimate of .59 (CI 0.49–0.69), p < .0001, with Q (19) = 12,119.52, p < .0001, I2 = 99.8.
Research Review: The strength of the genetic overlap between ADHD and other psychiatric symptoms – a systematic review and meta-analysis
Why everyone should know this?
Autistic Burnout is the reason I talk about this a lot. I was diagnosed for ADHD in 2010, but until I figured out I was Autistic in 2020, I basically kept burning out for unknown reasons and had ever increasing anxiety and depression.
These side effects of unknowingly being Autistic without realising culminated in a detonation that I almost didn’t survive.
If you are a ‘highly-sensitive person’ who is also an ADHDer you may want to look into masked autism. The reason most of us don’t know we are Autistic also is due to the horrible stereotypes and bad science that exist around Autism. Almost everything written about Autistic people and taught in mainstream psychology courses is false and based on faulty premises and data interpretation by allistic (non-Autistic) people.
Daily blog challenge
October is here usually known as ‘ADHD Awareness Month’ – but IMO we ADHDers deserve more than that – we deserve acceptance. We need to be listened to, we need realistic accommodations, and help. We need to start moving toward ADHD Pride Month. People should be able to feel proud of being ADHDers, because the alternative is shame.
For 31 days I will be writing every day on being an ADHDer using this list of prompts:
- Day 1: Introduction
- Day 2: What I love about being an ADHDer is…
- Day 3: My Identification/Discovery Story
- Day 4: Reactions to Identification
- Day 5: Hobby Graveyard
- Day 6: Supports and Appreciation
- Day 7: The ADHDer Community
- Day 8: Favourite ADHDer Blogs/Comics
- Day 9: Favourite ADHD Owned Business
- Day 10: Sensory Seeking/Aversion
- Day 11: Fidgets and Stims
- Day 12: Favourite ADHD Charity
- Day 13: Family
- Day 14: Order from Chaos
- Day 15: Everyone Should Know
- Day 16: Work/School
- Day 17: ADHD People I Admire
- Day 18: Someday…
- Day 19: I Love it When…
- Day 20: Communication Style
- Day 21: One thing other people don’t understand…
- Day 22: Dispel a myth
- Day 23: Can’t Live without…
- Day 24: ADHD Political Issue
- Day 25: Symbols
- Day 26: Favourite ADHD Book
- Day 27: Identity Language
- Day 28: Dealing with Boredom
- Day 29: Favourite Memes
- Day 30: Hyperfocus
- Day 31: Acceptance Means…
Rory's Reckons 
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