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Prospective parents often wonder about the origins of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many ask, “Is ADHD genetic?” Current research confirms that ADHD has a strong hereditary component—it tends to run in families because of shared genes. However, the environment also plays a role. Below, we examine ADHD’s heritability, how genetic risk passes from parent to child, and how advanced embryo screening like Orchid’s whole genome preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) can help assess that risk.

Heritability of ADHD

Twin and family studies consistently show that ADHD is highly heritable. Scientists estimate roughly 70–80% of the variation in ADHD can be attributed to genetic factors. One large review of twin research found an average heritability of about 74% for ADHD (What Role Do Genetics Have in ADHD?). This makes ADHD one of the most strongly genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. In simple terms, a child’s risk of developing ADHD is largely influenced by the genes they inherit from their parents.

Genetics and Family Risk

ADHD often runs in families due to inherited traits. If a parent has ADHD, their child’s likelihood of having the disorder is significantly increased. Studies show that a child with one ADHD-affected parent has over a 50% chance of developing ADHD (ADHD Causes & Risk Factors: Genetics, Biology, and More). Similarly, having an older sibling with ADHD raises a younger child’s risk (above 30%). These statistics demonstrate how strongly genetics can transmit ADHD risk across generations. Even so, genetics is not destiny—many children of parents with ADHD won’t develop it, and environmental factors also influence outcomes. For example, research has linked prenatal exposures (such as maternal smoking or prematurity) to a higher risk of ADHD (ADHD Causes & Risk Factors: Genetics, Biology, and More).

Assessing ADHD Risk with Preimplantation Genetic Testing

With IVF, it is now possible to evaluate an embryo’s genetic risk for conditions like ADHD before pregnancy. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) examines an embryo’s DNA for inherited risk factors. Orchid’s whole-genome PGT sequences over 99% of the embryo’s DNA, allowing it to measure the embryo’s genetic predisposition to various conditions (Polygenic embryo screening and your family). Armed with this information, parents may choose to implant the embryo with the lowest-risk genetic profile. Discussing these concerns with clinicians and genetic counselors can often identify families at risk and allow further testing.

Because ADHD involves many genes rather than a single gene, advanced PGT uses polygenic risk scoring to gauge an embryo’s overall genetic risk. This means generating a genetic risk score that quantifies how an embryo’s DNA might influence its chances of developing ADHD (Questions Answered about Screening Embryos for Genetic Predisposition to Chronic Diseases). For families affected by ADHD, such information can be especially valuable. As Orchid’s experts note, parents with a family history of mental health conditions are often eager to reduce the risk of passing those conditions to their children (Polygenic embryo screening and your family). By using whole-genome embryo screening, it may be possible to select an embryo with a lower inherited risk of ADHD, helping tilt the odds toward a healthier future child.