Why do some researchers think ADHD-related traits may have had an evolutionary advantage?

Some researchers suggest that the traits associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—such as inattentiveness, impulsivity, and high energy—may have once conferred an evolutionary advantage. This hypothesis is used to explain why the genetic components underlying these behaviors have been conserved within the human gene pool over time.1

While the medical community largely classifies ADHD as a neurobiological disorder characterized by differences in brain structure and function, some experts argue that these traits represent a different state of mind rather than a deficiency. From this perspective, the behaviors are not inherently disordered but may have been adaptive in different environmental contexts, even if they often conflict with the expectations of modern learning and work environments.21