AI Finds Early ADHD Risk Signals From Birth-to-Childhood Health Records

Duke Health researchers trained an AI model on electronic health records from birth through early childhood (over 140,000 children) and found it can accurately estimate a child’s risk of an ADHD diagnosis by age 5, serving as a 'clinical safety net' to prompt earlier screening and interventions. The tool does not diagnose but helps clinicians identify kids who should be prioritized for evaluation, with consistent accuracy across sex, race, ethnicity, and insurance status, potentially reducing disparities and improving long-term outcomes.