How genes and environment shape ADHD from childhood through adolescence

Polygenic and environmental contributions to ADHD trajectory and outcome from childhood through adolescence

NIH-funded research Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11249656

This project looks at how genetic risk and neighborhood and family exposures relate to ADHD symptoms and related problems in children and teens.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionOregon Health & Science University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Portland, United States)
Project IDNIH-11249656 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would learn from long-term data on thousands of young people to see how attention, hyperactivity, irritability, thinking skills, alertness, and impulsivity change from childhood into the teen years. The team combines genetic risk scores with geocoded neighborhood data (like pollution and neighborhood disadvantage) plus family and parenting information to find patterns that predict different ADHD courses. They use two large groups of youth—the Oregon ADHD-1000 cohort and the nationwide ABCD study—to compare results across settings and ages. The researchers will link these developmental paths to later outcomes such as mood problems, conduct disorder, substance use, and suicidality.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Children and adolescents roughly ages 7–19 with diagnosed or suspected ADHD (or their parents) match the populations this project analyzes.

Not a fit: Adults with ADHD beyond adolescence, people without genetic or location data, or those whose symptoms began in adulthood are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help pinpoint which children with ADHD are most likely to develop mood, behavioral, or substance problems so care can be targeted earlier.

How similar studies have performed: Previous work has linked genetic risk scores and environmental factors separately to ADHD outcomes, but combining geocoded exposures with long-term tracking of thousands of youth is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

Portland, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Affective Disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.