In France, 8% to 10% of school children suffer from dyslexia: defined by the World Health Organization as a “specific reading disorder”, dyslexia results in a significant decrease in performance in reading (or spelling) compared to the age standard.
The causes of dyslexia are not, to date, fully identified: researchers agree, however, on a genetic factor since a child born to a dyslexic parent (father or mother) himself has a risk of approximately 50% of being dyslexic.
Genes also involved in hyperactivity
Exactly: researchers at the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) may have succeeded in identifying the “dyslexia genes”. For this, the Scottish scientists studied precisely DNA samples from 50,000 adults diagnosed with dyslexia; these samples were compared with 1 million samples from non-dyslexics.
Verdict? The researchers managed to identify 42 genetic mutations potentially involved in the development of dyslexia. Interesting: among these genes, some were already known to have a link with attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADD/H) – in everyday language, we rather speak of hyperactivity.
With this information, the Scottish researchers believe it could become easier to quickly identify which children will need specific support at school – particularly in learning to read and write.
Source : Nature Genetics.
