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BERKSHIRE AD/HD RESEARCH GROUP DNA-RESEARCH PROJECT

cont.

Other Countries:

Jerusalem now screen all Primary school age children for AD/HD or AD/HD. The figures of identified sufferers in USA, Canada, Australia are far higher than the UK. If USA are over-diagnosing or maybe treating the true prevalence of this disorder why are there only 3,000 diagnosed cases of AD/HD been recognized in the UK does this signify that we are simply not recognizing, identifying or treating this disorder adequately?

Medication figures: North America 5% of schoolchildren; Australia 1-per 100 and in the UK 1 per 3,000. There is strong UK bias towards this disorder.

Neuronutrients:

Prof Kenneth Blurn was instrumental in developing neuronutrient formulations of ingredients to produce a more balanced brain chemistry. These neuronutrients are the result of over twenty-five years of research, development, and testing. They are designed to provide the proper amounts of vitamins, amino acids, and minerals essential for proper brain nutrition.

Neuronutrients, along with better nutrition, can restore some healthy brain chemistry and produce some positive behavioral responses. Of course, they are not a cure-all, nothing is. They can be used in addition to medication or instead of medication in some cases. Neuronutrients have been found beneficial in controlling symptoms of AD/HD.

Brain Wave Biofeedback:

When hearing of biofeedback, some people think of fad therapy. This may be because of some past claims for its as a cure-all for whatever ailed you. Biofeedback, however, has been found effective in the treatment of a wide variety of conditions. What this technology does is give feedback about biological conditions of which we usually are not consciously aware- heart rate, body temperature, muscle tenseness; and skin response. With this feedback we can learn to alter biological states: decrease heart rate, raise body temperature, relax muscle tension. While it is not a magic cure for high blood pressure, migraine headaches, and stress-related conditions, it has been found to be an effective adjunct to other treatments for these conditions.

With computerized technology, we now can use this therapy to produce brain wave feedback. AD/HD often show a brain wave pattern that is recognizably different from "normal" in that there is an excess of theta waves and a deficit of beta waves. Theta waves are relatively slow in frequency and accompany deep reverie or a daydreaming, unfocused state. Beta waves are higher in frequency and demonstrate focus and attention.

AD/HD sufferers can learn to significantly inhibit theta waves and enhance beta waves and thus experience greater clarity of thought and higher energy levels. Over time these brain wave changes have been shown to continue even without further treatments.

Cranial Electrical Stimulation:

(CES) provides a small, gentle electrical current that stimulates the production of brain chemicals that increase a feeling of well-being. CES provides its stimulation through the placement of two electrodes, usually on the lower portions of the jaw area. Some clinicians apply the electrodes to the head and the wrist. CES works through the use of a pocket-size unit that easily can be carried from place to place.

Studies indicate that low-voltage electrical stimulation of the brain is therapeutically beneficial in the treatment of conditions such as depression, substance use disorder, withdrawal symptoms, and insomnia. CES produces an increase in beta-endorphin levels and acetylcholine levels, which blocks anxiety and improves cognitive functioning. It can directly affect the stress levels connected with a reward deficiency by producing more relaxing, reward enhancing brain chemistry.

CES has also shown to significantly improve the P300 brain wave, which of course has been associated with AD/HD as it relates to both drug craving and attention span. Prof Eric Braverman and his associates have shown through brain mapping that many serious disorders of the brain have electrical rhythm disturbances. CES may normalize a variety of these rhythm disturbances. CES is gaining clinical recognition for its effectiveness.

Future Developments:

Sometime in the future Scientists will be able to develop ways to change the genetic state - such as flipping the Al to the A2 form of the Dopamine receptor gene - or will develop drugs to increase the number of D2 receptors. While the former technique involves gene manipulation and may take some time to achieve (even if we agree it is right to do this), the second possibility could be more immediate. A number of experimental compounds have already been shown to increase the Dopamine D2 receptors quite specifically in animals.

While the use of genetic therapy as a potential "cure" for a neurochemical reward deficiency or AD/HD seems simplistic and even scaly, we find it quite compelling based on the new potential uses of gene therapy for central nervous system disorders (mental disorders). While in infancy state, the techniques have been approved by government officials through the National Institutes of Health and have been accomplished for other diseases such as severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) and cystic fibrosis and, most recently, for knocking out brain tumor through a so-called suicide gene.

Research in the UK:

The Medical Research Council headed by Prof Rutter in London and Prof Eric Taylor at The Maudsley Hospital together with Scientists at the Cardiff University and more recently Dr Anita Thapar Senior Lecturer at Manchester University have recently been active in researching into AD/HD. Firstly, a twin study was carried at Cardiff University, on hyperactivity with twin siblings; and found hyperactivity to be highly inheritable. There is currently a larger twin study taking place in Manchester examining such symptoms, this is not directly for AD/HD. There are plans for molecular genetics research but due to lack of funding this is in design stage only.

Scientists in the UK are eager to research the genetics systematically testing of all genes implicated into this disorder, and agree primarily with the Scientists in the USA except propose the Al allele transporter requires research into the control aspect and the three Dopamines implicated requires further investigations to conclusively obtain a specific test for AD/HD not just a predisposing result from carrying the Al allele and D2 receptor.

AD/HD is classified in the British Medical Institute of Mental Diseases): The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (DSM IV) of the American Psychiatric Association is adopted for diagnostic criteria for this disorder. The Berkshire AD/HD Research Group is proposing to obtain funding in the UK from companies and other sources to sponsor our Scientists to find the DNA for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder over a 2 to 3 year research program. Much is still needed to explore this complex condition which is most certainly genetic.

Many thanks to Berkshire AD/HD Research Group.

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