Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are common neurodevelopmental and childhood-onset chronic disorders. Despite being notably impairing and presenting deleterious effects on reproductive success they both are highly prevalent. Although they have distinct diagnostic definitions, they can co-occur in the same individual and they present a substantial overlap of symptoms. One of the hypotheses explaining the co-occurrence between ASD and ADHD proposes that they may have, at least in part, a common aetiology, which is supported by recent genetic studies.
The goal of GRASAD was to study two important and still unsolved issues regarding the genetic underpinnings of ASD and ADHD. On one side, this project aimed at understanding how a diverse set of genetic risk factors are involved in both ASD and ADHD and ultimately to specific symptoms shared between the two disorders. On the other side, we also aimed to study evolutionary aspects of the genetic roots of ASD.
In disorders such as ASD and ADHD, in which the set of genes involved has been estimated to be large and heterogeneous, it is crucial to identify risk genes that cut across disorders and may be relevant to specific disease symptoms. This is essential for the development of improved diagnostic procedures, to gain insight into the prognosis of the disorder and also for the development of new and effective pharmacological treatments. Moreover, studying these disorders from an evolutionary perspective can provide a more natural view of the disorder and help to understand why they are so prevalent today.
