In this study they have evaluated 166 kids diagnosed with either ADHD or Autism (not both). All kids were evaluated by clinicans for both ADHD traits and Autism traits! Then they scanned their brains using fMRI (MRI that basically shows the brain activity not just a brain image) to see how different brain regions are connected to each other (communicate with each other).

They have found that, Autism traits (not autism diagnosis necessarily) lines up with a specific brain wiring! Two brain regions talk to each other more in kids with stronger Autism traits. These two regions are frontoparietal network (involved with focus/control) and the posterior cingulate cortex of the default mode network (involved with daydreaming/self-reflection). This isn't about what label (Autism vs ADHD diagnosis) the kids had, it was about what actual traits they were showing in the study.

Surprisingly ADHD traits showed no specific brain wiring pattern. The authors say this is probably due to the fact that there isn't a great method of directly observing and rating the ADHD traits as there is for AUtism (Not that ADHD has no brain signature!).

Genes related to these brain wiring patterns overlapped with the genes that are already linked to Autism and ADHD. SO basically they pulled up the list of genes that are active in tthe Autism connectivity brain regions, let's call them Autism Connectivity Genes. and then separately they pulled up list of genes that show up more often in people with Autism or ADHD than other people lets call em Autism/ADHD Genes. and they found out that a lot of Autism Connectivity Genes are overlapping with the list of Autism/ADHD Genes! So what? It turned out that a lot of these overlapping genes are responsible for helping neurns grow their ling connecting fibers (axons) and branching structures (dendrites), which is basically neurons reaching out and connecting to each other. SO these overlapping genes --> affect how neurons wire themselves in early development --> produces this specific connectivity pattern --> then it shows up as Autism traits later in life.

Interestingly a third of ADHD-only kids showed Autism triats, even though they were not diagnosed with Autism. Also their brain wiring patterns looked more like an Autism brain too.

Limitations:

1- fairly small sample size

2- kids were mostly boys so it may not generalize to girls.

3- Lack of tools for systematic direct observation of ADHD traits.

4- The gene part was done by looking at other stiudies, they did not test the kids' DNA themselves.

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-025-03205-8

If you enjoy having scientific papers broken down into simple, accessible terms, feel free to subscribe to my channel on YouTube (link in my profile), I'll be uploading videos hopefully soon!

Disclaimer: I summarized the findings of this research paper in a way that was easy to understand and accessible to all of us, so I avoided unnecessary scientific jargon and simplified some of the concepts. Obviously, simplifying complex findings inevitably meant losing some scientific precision.

Long story short, I'm in my 30s and I got diagnosed with ADHD last year, I have advanced degrees in neuroscience and psychology (Ironic! I know!), and I'm disgusted by the influencer grift and misinformation and relatability porn that is targeting vulnerable people with or without ADHD, is trivializing ADHD, claiming it's a superpower or it can be tested using "the short survey in my bio" or it can be cured by listening to this very specific music or eating my special snake oil on my website or this crappy supplement!

Specially because one of the best ADHD educators, Dr. Barkley retired from YouTube I want to make a science-based ADHD YouTube channel that:

1- explains the science and neural mechanisms of ADHD (not everything is due to the "lack" of dopamine!)

2- exposes the ADHD influencers and misinformation (fact checking ridiculous claims)

3- discuss which medication or behavioral methods are best for managing ADHD

4- talk to informed guests (researchers, therapists, psychiatrists, etc.)

5- is designed to entertain and at the same time educate people with ADHD and people who are interested in the topic.

I need your honest feedback:

1- what do you think about my plan and would you watch such content?

2- what other topics would you want to be included on my list? like is discussing the molecular mechanisms and neural circuits involved with executive dysfunction for example even interesting to you?

3- any other criticism or feedback, things I need to be aware of... etc.

Thank you so much for reading and participating!