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Danish Study Finds Lower Genetic Risk Scores in More Recent ADHD and Autism Diagnoses
@NewScientist reported that a study of 140,000 people found recent ADHD and autism diagnoses linked to lower polygenic risk scores. Researchers concluded that expanded diagnostic criteria explain the increase rather than overdiagnosis.
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A study of 140,000 individuals in Denmark found that people diagnosed with ADHD or autism in more recent years carried fewer genetic variants associated with the conditions than those diagnosed earlier. @NewScientist reported that researchers calculated polygenic risk scores using genome-wide association studies from 2018 and 2019.
The analysis covered 37,000 people diagnosed between 1994 and 2016 from the iPSYCH cohort.
Those diagnosed later showed lower scores not only for autism and ADHD but also for depression and traits such as risk-taking and impulsivity. Even individuals with the lowest scores still had more risk variants than the neurotypical control group. Diagnoses of autism and ADHD have risen up to tenfold worldwide over the past two decades, with sharper increases among girls and adults.
Sonja LaBianca at Copenhagen University Hospital said the results point to a broadening of diagnostic criteria as the main driver. “That supports the finding that we’re not overdiagnosing,” she said. ” LaBianca noted that better awareness and reduced stigma may also play a role, though supporting data remain limited.
Tinca Polderman at Vrije University Amsterdam said broadening of criteria is the most likely explanation but added that polygenic risk scores provide just one piece of the puzzle. 2026.1450. ADHD and autism are known to be highly heritable.
