Youngest Kids in Class at Higher Risk of ADHD Diagnosis

Re:Youngest Kids in Class at Higher Risk of ADHD Diagnosis by madaxe_again on Monday March 14, 2016 @06:52AM (#11282080)

ADHD is a trait that drives a need to explore, to discover - it's a handy gene if you're a tribal nomad, and going finding that cool new valley will allow your genes to survive.

If you're a first world schlub, however, it prevents you from sitting tidily in your little box and people get mad and you get sad, because conformity is identity. Your genes only get passed on to a sports sock. There are no new valleys to discover.

So it works with both ideas - and depression isnt dissimilar - old adaptation for dealing with sickness, injury and winter that just isn't helpful anymore.

Cage a bird and you need to adapt its diet and care. Same with humans.

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Re:Youngest Kids in Class at Higher Risk of ADHD Diagnosis by tomhoward on Monday March 14, 2016 @10:56AM (#11283183)

Thanks for this comment, you're mostly spot-on.

There are no new valleys to discover.

Except there are.

It just needs the right kind of awareness and encouragement.

Cage a bird and you need to adapt its diet and care. Same with humans.

Indeed. And my hope (and belief) is that we'll soon see much better techniques than amphetamines for providing said care. Opening that metaphorical cage is probably a big part of it.

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