A new understanding of the neurobiology of impulsivity
While not all impulsive behavior is indicative of mental illness, impulsivity has been associated to a variety of mental health conditions, including depression and substance misuse, which frequently manifest in adolescence. Therefore, it's crucial to develop a means to spot and treat those who could be particularly prone to impulsivity at a young age. Researchers at McGill University have developed a genetic score that could be used to identify young children who are most at risk of impulsive behavior with a high degree of accuracy (higher than any impulsivity assessments now in use). Their results are particularly intriguing because the score they established allowed them to identify children from three ethnically diverse community samples who were at a higher risk of impulsivity from a cohort of almost 6,000 kids. The identification of a new score for impulsivity in childhood can help with prevention plans and initiatives for kids and teenagers who are at risk for mental health ...