ADHD in the News 2026-02-19
Department of Education Backs Down on Unlawful Directive Targeting Educational Equity
In a victory for academic freedom and education equity, the U.S. Department of Education conceded the end of its February 14, 2025, “Dear Colleague” directive that sought to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in schools and higher education institutions nationwide.
Off-Label Methylphenidate Use Common in Adults with Mood Disorders
Key point: Only 51.3% of patients treated with MPH had a documented diagnosis of ADHD, while the remainder were treated for depressive, substance-related, and personality disorders, highlighting frequent off-label use in acute settings.
What If We’ve Been Wrong About How ADHD Drugs Work?
Stimulant medications like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) are dispensed at a rate of 6.1 prescriptions per 100 Americans annually, rising to 24.6 per 100 among boys aged 10-19 years, making them among the most commonly prescribed controlled substances in the country. These medications work by blocking the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine, increasing levels of these neurotransmitters at synapses. The long-time prevailing assumption has been that this mechanism treats attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by activating prefrontal attention circuits. But what if that assumption has been wrong all along?
ADHD Symptoms Linked to Poor Glycemic Control in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes
Key Takeaways: Nearly one-third of surveyed adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) screened positive for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, far exceeding documented diagnosis rates. Positive ADHD screening was associated with more than double the odds of poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥8.0%) and higher depression scores. No significant associations were observed between ADHD symptoms and most cardiometabolic comorbidities after statistical correction.
The Emotional Aftermath of an Adult ADHD Diagnosis
Key points: Adult ADHD diagnoses often bring both relief and grief; both are well documented emotional responses. Because parenting intensifies emotional load, adult ADHD diagnoses affect the entire family system. Research shows that self-understanding in ADHD parents supports emotional regulation.
UC Berkeley students struggle to access ADHD medication after stock runs dry at campus pharmacy
Before Londi Gamedze was diagnosed with ADHD during the first year of her Ph.D. program, she remembers feeling overwhelmed by the workload, and wondering to herself: “How are we supposed to do this?” Then she was prescribed Ritalin, a stimulant that helps treat ADHD symptoms. “It was a complete revelation,” Gamedze said. “It improved the quality of my life and my capacity to actually be a student.” But on Oct. 31, 2025, Gamedze received a notification from the University Health Services Pharmacy that it could not provide her with her Ritalin prescription due to “ordering and stock issues.”
Video games may offer small attention benefits for children with ADHD
New analyses regarding digital health interventions suggest that specially designed video games may offer a small benefit in improving attention symptoms for children with certain neurodevelopmental conditions. While the findings indicate a positive outcome in a research setting, the improvements were not large enough to be considered a standalone cure. These results were recently published in the journal Psychiatry Research.
Research shows mixed reactions to neurodiversity-friendly initiatives
Silent clapping, often referred to as "jazz hands," is becoming popular as a way to make events more neurodivergent friendly. A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that both neurodivergent and neurotypical people are generally positive towards the practice, although opinions vary widely. The study also highlights differing language preferences, with many participants indicating that both identity‑first and person‑first terms are acceptable.
Study reveals how children with disruptive behavior get ‘stuck’ in specific brain states
Youth with related behavior challenges may have trouble moving between different brain states, according to a new study from Yale Child Study Center. Their brains appear to get stuck in states with disrupted connections in areas of the brain important for attention, flexibility in thinking, and regulating emotions.
Inattention symptoms linked to lower cognitive performance in older adults
[Excerpt] A new study indicates that symptoms of inattention are linked to lower performance on memory and mental processing tasks in older adults. This association appears to remain consistent regardless of whether an individual is in their late fifties or their early eighties. The findings were published in the Journal of Attention Disorders.
Pre-fab psychological diagnoses: Clinicians confront a new trend
More and more young adults seek psychological assessment with a diagnosis already in mind—or even one they have assigned to themselves. A new mixed-methods study with 93 clinical psychologists shows that self-diagnosed and "desired" psychiatric labels—often ADHD or autism—are now far more common than just a few years ago. According to the clinicians, this is seen particularly among young women with higher education and intensive social media use, some of whom react to unexpected results by "diagnosis shopping."