Risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Aymara and Rapa-Nui school children. Association with dopaminergic system polymorphisms Riesgo de déficit atencional/hiperactividad en escolares aymara, rapa-nui y de santiago de Chile. posible contribuc

Abstract

Background: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, highly heritable neurobiological disorder of childhood onset, characterized by hyperactivity, impulsiveness or inattentiveness. Aim: To search for differences in risk for ADHD and its components among Chilean native and mixed populations and to look for possible associations with dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) and dopamine transporter 1 (DAT1) polymorphisms. Material and Methods: School teachers were requested to complete the Conners test, which uses DSM-IV criteria, to screen for ADHD risk among Aymara and Rapa-Nui students. Results: Rapa-Nui children from Easter Island had the highest risk of hyperactivity/impulsiveness. Aymara children from the Arica-Parinacota Region had lower scores. Although inattentiveness scores had lower differences between groups, overall ADHD score differences among studied populations were highly significant. DRD4 and DAT1 alleles had a heterogeneous distribution. Easter islanders had mor