Relating to a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development. Symptoms must be present before age 12 and occur in multiple settings.
From Latin 'attendere' (to stretch toward, give heed to) and 'deficit' (it is lacking). The condition was first described in 1902 as 'defect of moral control,' evolved through terms like 'minimal brain dysfunction,' and became ADHD in 1987.
ADHD affects about 5-10% of children and 2.5% of adults worldwide, with the condition persisting into adulthood in about 60% of cases. Brain imaging shows differences in the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia, areas crucial for executive function, and the condition has a strong genetic component with heritability rates around 70-80%.
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