No evidence for association and linkage disequilibrium between dyslexia and markers of four dopamine-related genes

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2003 Aug;12(4):198-202. doi: 10.1007/s00787-003-0332-4.

Abstract

Dopamine genes are candidate genes for dyslexia in the light of the well-known comorbidity between dyslexia and ADHD. Within-family association and linkage disequilibrium were tested between four genetic markers at DRD4, DRD3, DRD2, and DAT loci, and dyslexia, in a sample of 130 Italian dyslexic children, 16.9% of whom had comorbid ADHD. No evidence of either association or linkage disequilibrium was found, neither in the total sample nor in the comorbid subgroup. Negative results do not support a common genetic basis between these two disorders for these markers.

MeSH terms

  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / epidemiology
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / genetics
  • Child
  • Comorbidity
  • Dyslexia / epidemiology
  • Dyslexia / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genetic Markers
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Linkage Disequilibrium*
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Receptors, Dopamine / genetics*

Substances

  • Genetic Markers
  • Receptors, Dopamine