What polygenic risk scores exist for ADHD? 

Polygenic risk scores (PRS), sometimes referred to as ADHD polygenic risk scores,summarise the cumulative effect of many common genetic variants (SNPs), each contributing a small risk for ADHD. They are not yet diagnostic tools, but meta‑analyses and recent studies are showing how these scores are starting to map onto symptom severity, outcomes, and related traits. 

Here is what ADHD PRS research tells us so far: 

Key Findings about ADHD Polygenic Risk Score 

• A meta‑analysis of 12 ADHD PRS studies (N ≈ 40,088) found that PRS reliably predict ADHD with effect sizes around r = 0.19‑0.20, meaning ~3.6‑4.0% of variance in ADHD traits could be explained by the PRS. 

• ADHD PRS has been shown to add small predictive power even when used alongside rating scales and family history. For example, in a recent adult sample, adding PRS to standard diagnostic tools raised explained variance by less than 1%.  

• Studies also find that higher ADHD PRS correlates with worse outcomes in other domains: poorer educational attainment, lower cognitive performance (e.g. working memory), and adverse social or health outcomes. 

• More refined PRS methods (for example using annotated or functionally‑weighted SNP sets) are starting to improve prediction somewhat. For instance, the “AnnoPred” PRS (which uses functional annotation) performed better for predicting inattention symptoms in adolescents than standard approaches. 

Limitations & Where the Field is Heading 

• The variance explained by the current ADHD PRS is modest. Even with large GWAS data, PRS accounts for only a few percent of symptom variance. They are not reliable enough individually for diagnosis. 

• Most studies are in populations of European ancestry, meaning PRS may be less accurate or generalisable in other ethnic groups. 

• Environmental factors, gene‑environment interactions, and rare variants are not well captured by current PRS. 

Visit providers like ADHD Certify for personal consultations informed by genetic risk research. 

For a deeper dive into the science, diagnosis, and full treatment landscape, read our complete guide to Genetic studies and biomarkers.