ADHD in the News 2025-03-13
ADHD prescriptions in England have risen by 18% each year since pandemic
The number of prescriptions being issued in England for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication has risen by 18% year on year since the pandemic, with the biggest rise being seen in London, according to research. Experts said increased public awareness via social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok could be a factor behind the substantial rise in prescription rates, encouraging “more people to seek assessment, diagnosis and treatment”.
Pediatric chronic disease prevalence has risen to nearly 30% in the last 20 years
The prevalence of chronic conditions has risen to unprecedented levels over the past twenty years, with nearly 1-in-3 young people estimated to now be living with pediatric onset conditions that significantly affect their lives, new research suggests. This rise is largely driven by ADHD/ADD, autism, asthma, prediabetes and depression/anxiety, said Lauren Wisk, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of general internal medicine and health services research at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
4 charged in death of 5-year-old boy ‘incinerated’ in hyperbaric chamber explosion
[Excerpt] NBC News reported the family’s attorney said the boy received multiple sessions for sleep apnea and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. These conditions aren’t among those approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for marketing of hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment — a fact reiterated by Nessel, who described the boy’s treatment as “unsupported by medical science.”
Riding the ADHD Rollercoaster
Hormones may play a big part in women with the neurodevelopmental condition
Methylphenidate May Improve Sleep Outcomes in ADHD Without Dysregulation Profile
Key point: The presence of dysregulation profile in children with ADHD was associated with higher sleep disturbances following treatment with methylphenidate.
ADHD and Sleep Struggles
Key points: ADHD affects the brain's ability to regulate sleep with racing thoughts and nocturnal energy surges. Challenges with executive functioning skills increase difficulty with following a sleep schedule consistently. Relying on predictable evening routines and making the bedroom a calm refuge improve sleep hygiene and rest. Reducing caffeine, sugar, stimulants, and use of technology before bed help power down the brain and body.
Prenatal Acetaminophen Use and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
[Excerpt] Acetaminophen is widely used as an over-the-counter medication, but recent public discourse has raised concerns about its safety during pregnancy, particularly regarding potential associations with neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. This clinical perspective critically examines the strengths and limitations of the existing literature on the relationship between maternal acetaminophen use during pregnancy and the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children.
Sharper Images: How the Brain Filters Out the Noise
A multidisciplinary team of researchers at Georgia Tech has discovered how lateral inhibition helps our brains process visual information, and it could expand our knowledge of sensory perception, leading to applications in neuro-medicine and artificial intelligence.
ADHD, Executive Functions, and AI: A New Era in Treatment
Key points: AI has the potential to become a powerful treatment tool for kids and adults with ADHD. AI might be best viewed as an agent that supports ineffective executive functioning skills. Emerging technologies are not a cure for ADHD, but they support and improve many executive functioning skills.
Childhood brain disorders can lead to adult psychiatric disorders
Brazilian researchers have conducted a comprehensive study of the effects of seizures during development. The findings could lead to new treatments for autism, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia and epilepsy.
Maybe You Should Embrace the ADHD Label
Key points: Diagnostic labels aren't inherently good or bad. Weaving ADHD into our identity can backfire but has mostly positive outcomes. Understanding one's own mind is key to empowering individuals to move forward.
11 Realistic Meditation Tips for People With ADHD
We’ve all heard a bajillion times that meditation is good for us. But if you have ADHD, the whole thing can seem, well, torturously dull. Sit down, be still, and silently focus on my breath for 20 minutes? You must be joking. But it turns out, meditation doesn’t have to be a snooze-fest or slog.