Mom’s Genes Influence Child’s ADHD Risk – Even Without Passing on DNA, Study Finds

New York, NY – August 20, 2025 – Qwoted Newswire – A new Swedish national study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry notes that a mother’s genes can influence her child’s risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) through environmental pathways, even beyond the genes she biologically passed on. Columbia University psychiatrist and founder of Integrative Psychiatry, Dr. Ryan Sultan, explains the findings’ significance: “It’s not just what a mother gives her child genetically, but how her traits shape the child’s home environment that matters.” 

After analyzing records of 980,000 Swedish children, researchers found that about two-thirds of ADHD risk is explained by inherited genetics. Yet this study found that nearly 14% of ADHD risk was traced to what researchers call “maternal genetic nurture”—the environmental influence of a mother’s genetics on the child’s home life. According to the study, maternal genetic nurture encompasses how maternal temperament, behavior, and mental health shape the emotional climate and structure of the home for the child. Unlike the DNA directly inherited by the child, these effects work indirectly by altering the child’s developmental context. Interestingly, the study found little evidence for environmental factors that were genetically unrelated. This conclusion reinforces the concept that a mother’s biology, not just her behavior, seems to matter most in shaping ADHD risk.

“We tend to think of ADHD as something passed down in the genes or triggered by poor parenting,” said Dr. Sultan. “But this study shows that a mom’s own genetically influenced traits—whether it’s stress levels, mental health, or ability to provide structure—can shape her child’s risk even if those genes aren’t inherited. That’s a powerful message about prevention and intervention.”

Dr. Sultan, who was not involved in the study but is a leading child psychiatrist and ADHD clinical care provider, explained how these findings translate into practice:
“In my clinic, we often see that when a mom with untreated ADHD starts treatment, her child’s symptoms improve—even before we start working with the child directly,” he said. “This study helps explain why. A parent’s functioning sets the tone for the home.”

Dr. Sultan’s research shows just how serious ADHD can be for teens. In a 2021 paper written by Dr. Sultan in the Journal of Adolescent Health, he found that adolescents with ADHD were nearly three times more likely to attempt suicide and more than twice as likely to exhibit aggressive behavior compared to peers without the disorder. His work underscores the urgency of identifying and supporting at-risk children early in life. Rather than placing blame, Dr. Sultan emphasizes the opportunity for ADHD prevention: “If we support mothers’ mental health—before and after birth—we may reduce ADHD risk in the next generation.”

References

Mahjani, B., Kępińska, A. P., Smout, S., Cohen, L., Caballero, M., Buxbaum, J. D., & Grice, D. E. (2025). Significant role for maternal genetic nurture in the risk architecture of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20230383

Sultan, R. S., Levin, F. R., Liu, S.-M., Hacker, K. A., & Olfson, M. (2021). Adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Adverse behaviors and comorbidity. Journal of Adolescent Health, 68(2), 284–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.09.036

Sultan, R. S., Wang, S., Crystal, S., & Olfson, M. (2019). Antipsychotic treatment among youths with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. JAMA Network Open, 2(7), e197850. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.7850