Authors: Katie J. S. Lewis; Joanna Martin; Alice M. Gregory; Richard Anney; Anita Thapar; Kate Langley · Research
How Do Sleep Problems and ADHD Connect at the Genetic Level?
New research explores the genetic links between sleep disturbances and ADHD in children, with implications for treatment.
Source: Lewis, K. J. S., Martin, J., Gregory, A. M., Anney, R., Thapar, A., & Langley, K. (2022). Sleep disturbances in ADHD: investigating the contribution of polygenic liability for ADHD and sleep‑related phenotypes. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 32, 1253-1261.
What you need to know
- Sleep problems are common in children with ADHD but may arise through different mechanisms than sleep issues in the general population
- There is weak evidence that children with ADHD inherit genetic tendencies for longer sleep duration from their parents
- Sleep problems in children with ADHD don’t appear to be driven by genetic risk for ADHD or other psychiatric conditions
The Complex Relationship Between Sleep and ADHD
If you’re a parent of a child with ADHD, you may be all too familiar with bedtime struggles and sleep difficulties. Children with ADHD commonly experience problems falling asleep, staying asleep through the night, or getting good quality rest. These sleep issues can make ADHD symptoms worse and impact the whole family’s wellbeing. But why do ADHD and sleep problems so often occur together? Scientists have been working to understand if there might be shared genetic factors that increase risk for both conditions.
What the Research Examined
This study looked at genetic data from 758 children diagnosed with ADHD and their parents to understand if sleep problems in ADHD run in families through shared genes. The researchers analyzed genetic variations linked to different sleep traits like insomnia, sleep timing preferences, and sleep duration. They also looked at whether having more genetic risk factors for ADHD or other conditions like anxiety and depression made sleep problems more likely.
Key Findings About Genetic Connections
The results revealed some surprising findings. While sleep problems are common in ADHD, they don’t seem to arise from the same genetic factors that cause sleep issues in the general population. The researchers found only weak evidence that children with ADHD inherit genetic tendencies for longer sleep duration from their parents. They didn’t find strong genetic links with other sleep traits like insomnia or preferences for being a “night owl” versus “morning person.”
What This Means for Sleep Problems in ADHD
Interestingly, having more genetic risk factors for ADHD didn’t make children more likely to have sleep problems. This suggests that sleep difficulties may not be directly caused by the same genes that contribute to ADHD symptoms. The sleep issues may instead arise from other factors, like:
- ADHD symptoms making it harder to maintain good sleep habits
- Side effects from ADHD medications
- Environmental factors like family stress or socioeconomic status
- Different biological mechanisms than those causing sleep problems in people without ADHD
What This Means for You
These findings have several practical implications:
- Don’t assume sleep problems are an inevitable part of ADHD - they may be modifiable with the right interventions
- Focus on environmental factors and sleep habits that you can control
- Work with healthcare providers to optimize both ADHD and sleep treatments
- Consider that sleep problems may need different approaches in children with ADHD versus those without
- Remember that improving sleep could help reduce ADHD symptoms
Conclusions
- Sleep problems in children with ADHD likely arise through different mechanisms than sleep issues in the general population
- Environmental factors and behaviors may play a bigger role than shared genetics
- Sleep difficulties don’t necessarily indicate more severe ADHD
- More research is still needed to fully understand the relationship between ADHD and sleep problems