Genetic background of grey matter brain networks related to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder and is associated with structural grey matter differences in the brain. We investigated the genetic background of some of these brain differences in a sample of 899 adults and adolescents consisting of individuals with ADHD and healthy controls. Previous work in an overlapping sample identified three ADHD-related grey matter brain networks located in areas of the superior, middle, and inferior frontal gyrus as well as the cerebellar tonsil and culmen. We associated these brain networks with protein coding genes using a statistical stability selection approach. We identified ten genes, the most promising of which were NR3C2, TRHDE, SCFD1, GNAO1, and UNC5D. These genes are expressed in brain and linked to neuropsychiatric disorders including ADHD. With our results we aid in the growing understanding of the aetiology of ADHD from genes to brain to behaviour.