An Association Between Prenatal Acetaminophen Use and ADHD: The Benefits of Large Data Sets

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent disorder defined by a combination of symptoms that are likely due to malfunctions in those areas of the brain that are associated with executive functions, including the prefrontal cortex,¹ caudate nucleus,² and cerebellar vermis.³ Over the years, multiple factors have been identified that probably contribute to its possible etiology. The most prominent has been genetics; ADHD is often identified by a high familial pattern with a high concordance in twin studies.⁴ However, no specific gene, gene pattern, or marker gene has been able to explain all but a small amount of the variance. In addition, environmental factors both pre- and postnatally (including prenatal alcohol⁵ and smoking exposure⁶ and postnatal head injuries⁷) have been found to increase the risk of its presence. There is also a great deal of variation in the presentation of the disorder, with...