Comments on: ADHD, Alzheimer’s, and the “Paisa Mutation”

By: Gina Pera

Gina Pera — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 01:43:17 +0000

Hi David,

Thanks for visiting. My understanding is that the Paisa are also known for being very good businesspeople. And of course, when we’re talking about millions of people, generalizations hardly hold true.

I feel deeply for the minority of Paisa afflicted with this Alzheimer’s-like mutation, and I hope that scientists can soon learn enough to develop a gene therapy to help them.

Perhaps they will discover some epigenetic factors, such as diet and water supply.

Gina

By: David

David — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 00:45:12 +0000

I’m Paisa 10th of 11 children. ADD+depression. My IQ is higher than average(MD,MSMH) painter and self teaching Indian American flute.
I’m sure this mutation may be in my family, none of them with addiction issues or severe mental illness; on the other hand most are pretty intelligent and driven to improve their lives. I think our genetics predispose 50%
of our outcomes, but learning compensation mechanisms can lead to have a normal productive life.

By: Gina Pera

Gina Pera — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:39:27 +0000

Hi Jean,

Thanks for your comment.

Just to be clear: It’s not that everyone who has ADHD is descended from the Paisas.

Rather, it is that the original Spanish families (the ancestors of modern-day Paisa) obviously carried genetic traits strong for ADHD inter-married over many generations. In other words, inbreeding reinforced these traits.

re: Australia. I had not heard that ADHD in the Australian population has been attributed to the Greeks. The theory I have heard is that ADHD might have been high among the convicts and indentured servants who were sent from Great Britain to populate the new country.

By: Jean Carnegie

Jean Carnegie — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:41:31 +0000

Very interesting article. I have a son with ADHD, but as far as we know there is no Paisa in our background! What else can cause this diagnosis?

In Australia there is a theory that with the onset of Greek migration, this syndrome has been introduced here. They too have secular populations due to the many islands that make up Greece. I have heard that there is also a connection with “the red hair gene”. Is there any truth in any of these theories?

By: B.Elliott

B.Elliott — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:55:56 +0000

I just googled this looking for a link between adhd and alzheimers. My great grand father and great grand mother had this. My son is showing signs of adhd and I’m slowly loosing my memory and have add. So i think it’s completely genetic. Please feel free to contact. Or update on further research.

By: Gina Pera

Gina Pera — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:59:40 +0000

Excellent query, Joanna. I’d be interested in that, too.

I’ve long been interested in the effects of local water and soil on the population, especially when they have migrated halfway across the world. Perhaps, by staying in a region for hundreds of years, there are adaptations. And certainly, there are in utero effects that can perpetuate generation after generation. And then to move to an area with very different soil and water (maybe even more toxic levels).

I hope this is an area where strong cross-disciplinary knowledge is applied. I’m not holding my breath, though.

Gina

By: Joanna R Mucera

Joanna R Mucera — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:44:48 +0000

I would be interested in their regular dietary habits.

By: The Masked ADDer

The Masked ADDer — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:41:50 +0000

Great story, Gina. It’s fascinating to see how human understanding evolves from superstitious interpretations to genetic mutations as the causal factors.