All articles tagged with #adhd
A Molecular Psychiatry study shows that the severity of autism-like symptoms, not the diagnostic label, is linked to specific brain connectivity patterns and gene activity shared by autism and ADHD, suggesting a common biology and supporting a dimensional, biomarker-informed approach to neurodevelopmental conditions.
Concerta, an ADHD medication from Janssen, has been in nationwide short supply in Japan since last fall, with clinics unable to prescribe it to new patients and restricting long‑time patients to about two weeks’ worth. Janssen previously said stock would be resolved in about two months, but shortages persist and full restoration is expected to take many more months. Concerta is one of only three ADHD drugs approved for adults in Japan, a concern as the adult ADHD population grows.
A study of 123 children found that those with ADHD plus impairing emotional outbursts have thicker left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and weaker resting-state connectivity between the DLPFC and networks involved in vision, attention, and salience, suggesting a distinct neural signature for severe emotion dysregulation in ADHD; however, causality can’t be determined from a cross‑sectional design, and short MRI scans and parental questionnaires limit interpretation.
A Finnish study of nearly 4,000 children with ADHD found that sustained methylphenidate treatment (Ritalin/Concerta) before age 13 for about 3–4 years did not increase—and may reduce—the risk of developing psychotic disorders later; the overall ADHD–psychosis link may reflect shared genetics rather than medication. Experts caution that findings may not apply to older adolescents and that amphetamine-based treatments could carry higher risk, highlighting the need for more research on dosing, timing, and long-term effects.
A Canadian CMAJ study finds adult ADHD stimulant prescriptions more than doubled since the start of the COVID-19 era, with a 2024 monthly rate of 10.4 per 1,000 people. The increase is strongest among 25–34-year-olds and women, and the time from first ADHD visit to prescription shortened, suggesting greater access via telehealth and primary-care prescribing. While this may reflect better treatment access, experts warn it could reflect overdiagnosis or rushed evaluations, underscoring the need for thorough assessment.
Neuroscience is reevaluating dopamine beyond a simple reward signal as the once-dominant reward-prediction-error model faces challenges; new data show dopamine also encodes attention, threats, novelty, and action predictions, with some researchers proposing retrospective learning and broader theories, potentially reshaping understanding and treatment of ADHD and addiction.
Researchers found that adults with ADHD show more frequent sleep-like slow waves during wakefulness while performing attention-demanding tasks, and these bursts are linked to more errors, slower reaction times, and lapses in attention. The study compared 32 adults with ADHD off medication to 31 neurotypical controls. The findings suggest a brain mechanism behind ADHD-related attention difficulties, and future work may test whether sleep-based stimulation to boost slow waves could reduce daytime sleep-like activity and improve focus.
In a study of 63 adults (32 with ADHD, 31 controls), ADHD participants showed more sleep-like slow waves during a sustained attention task—especially in fronto-central brain regions—and these waves predicted missed responses and variable reaction times. The findings support the idea of 'local sleep' during wakefulness as a neural mechanism for ADHD inattention and point to sleep-based interventions and EEG biomarkers, though causality isn’t proven and the results come from a lab task.
New findings show localized sleep-like slow waves occur during wakefulness more often in adults with ADHD, correlating with attention lapses, slower reaction times, and daytime sleepiness, and suggesting a potential nonpharmacological treatment using auditory stimulation to enhance deep sleep and reduce daytime intrusions.
Heidi Klum, 52, told Glamour Germany she has an ADHD form she treats as a “superpower,” claiming she can juggle many projects at once. The interview discusses ADHD’s basics and Klum’s busy career on projects like Project Runway and America's Got Talent, while noting her long history of advocacy for female empowerment.
New studies from Drexel University and the University of Fukui link early screen exposure in babies and toddlers to atypical sensory behaviors by about 33 months, with increased risk for ADHD and autism traits. Findings show that even an extra hour of daily screen time at 18–24 months raises odds of sensory-seeking, sensory-avoidance, and low registration, and researchers urge screen-time reduction and sensory-processing guidance, alongside pediatric recommendations to limit digital media for very young children.
ADHD is increasingly diagnosed in adulthood, but diagnosis remains complex and highly heritable, with environment shaping impairment; treatments include stimulants, non-stimulants, CBT for adult ADHD, and emerging approaches like brain stimulation, while awareness has risen yet access gaps persist and online ADHD content often contains misinformation.
A new UK-backed paper argues there is no robust evidence ADHD is overdiagnosed; instead, many people remain undiagnosed or untreated due to long NHS waiting times and barriers to care. While misdiagnosis can occur, especially where assessments rely on self-reporting, thorough multidisciplinary evaluation is essential. International prevalence is about 5% in children and 3% in adults, but NHS figures lag behind, highlighting unmet needs. The authors call for more funding, better workforce training, and a balanced, evidence-based public conversation to expand access to accurate diagnosis and treatment.
A study using structural MRI and machine learning identifies two distinct physical subtypes of ADHD. Subtype 1 shows increased gray matter in the frontal regions and cerebellum, linked to severe inattention; Subtype 2 shows widespread gray matter reductions in the cerebellum, frontal regions, and hippocampus, tied to higher overall severity and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. Through a pseudo-time-series analysis and causal-network mapping, researchers reveal subtype-specific brain–behavior progression patterns, suggesting potential for personalized diagnosis and treatment, though longitudinal studies are needed to confirm progression and acknowledge cross-sectional design limitations.
A JAMA Psychiatry study analyzing brain scans and neurochemical data from hundreds of children with ADHD identifies three distinct neuroclinical profiles—severe-combined with emotional dysregulation, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and predominantly inattentive—suggesting ADHD isn’t a single disorder and could lead to tailored treatments in the future.