ADHD Research News
New ADHD research studies referenced in this week's ADHD in the News:
- “FDA to Revoke Authorization for the Use of Red No. 3 in Food and Ingested Drugs.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Human Foods Program Constituent Update, January 15, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-revoke-authorization-use-red-no-3-food-and-ingested-drugs.
- Referenced in “FDA bans Red No. 3, artificial coloring used in beverages, candy and other foods (NBC News, January 15, 2025)”
- Paul, Margaret L., et al. “Incidence of Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Between 2016 and 2023: A Retrospective Cohort.” Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice (January 13, 2025). DOI: 10.1176/appi.prcp.20240121.
- Referenced in “ADHD Incidence Trends Fluctuated from 2016 to 2023 in Adults, Adolescents (HCPLive, January 15, 2025)”
- Robson, Ellie May, et al. “Tracking the Course of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms across Adolescence (the CATS Study): A Population-Based Cohort Study in Australia.” The Lancet Psychiatry 12, no. 1 (January 1, 2025): 44-53. DOI: 10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00361-4.
- Referenced in “ADHD Med Trials Often Miss the Mark (Psychiatrist.com, January 13, 2025)”
- Ruiz-Sobremazas, Diego, et al. “From Nutritional Patterns to Behavior: High-Fat Diet Influences on Inhibitory Control, Brain Gene Expression, and Metabolomics in Rats.” ACS Chemical Neuroscience 15, no. 24 (December 18, 2024): 4369-4382. DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00297.
- Referenced in “High-fat diet linked to impulsive behaviors and brain changes (News-Medical.net, January 14, 2025)”
- Voloudakis, Georgios, et al. “Neuropsychiatric Polygenic Scores Are Weak Predictors of Professional Categories.” Nature Human Behaviour (December 10, 2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-02074-5.
- Referenced in “Study explores link between people's professions and their genetic predisposition to neuropsychiatric traits (Medical Xpress, January 16, 2025)”
- Woods, Kevin J. P., et al. “Rapid Modulation in Music Supports Attention in Listeners with Attentional Difficulties.” Communications Biology 7, no. 1 (October 23, 2024): 1-13. DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-07026-3.
- Referenced in “Music can improve focus for people with ADHD—here's what to listen for (Medical Xpress, January 15, 2025)”
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis, Treatment, and Telehealth Use in Adults — National Center for Health Statistics Rapid Surveys System, United States, October–November 2023
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), October 10, 2024, 73(40);890–895
In 2023, an estimated 15.5 million U.S. adults had an ADHD diagnosis, approximately one half of whom received their diagnosis in adulthood. Approximately one third of adults with ADHD take stimulant medication; 71.5% had difficulty filling their prescription because the medication was unavailable. Approximately one half of adults with ADHD have ever used telehealth for ADHD services.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children Ages 5–17 Years: United States, 2020–2022
NCHS Data Brief No. 499, March 2024
Data from the National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2020–2022, finds that 11.3% of children ages 5-17 in the U.S have ever been diagnosed with ADHD. See the breakdown by age group, race, ethnicity, family income, and insurance coverage at General Prevalence of ADHD.
Who Provides Outpatient Clinical Care for Adults With ADHD? Analysis of Healthcare Claims by Types of Providers Among Private Insurance and Medicaid Enrollees, 2021
Journal of Attention Disorders, March 18, 2024
This study from CDC researchers and CHADD PAB co-chair, Craig Surman, MD, finds that family practice physicians, psychiatrists, and nurse practitioners/psychiatric nurses were the most common providers for adults using employer-sponsored insurance, although the distribution of provider types varied across states. Lower percentages of adults with Medicaid received ADHD care from physicians. Approximately half of adults receiving outpatient ADHD care received ADHD care by telehealth.
ADHD medication and risk of cardiovascular diseases
Commentary by CHADD PAB member, Russell J. Schachar, MD, on Zhang et al. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Medications and Long-Term Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases, JAMA Psychiatry, November 22, 2023.
Trends in Stimulant Prescription Fills Among Commercially Insured Children and Adults—United States, 2016-2021
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, March 31, 2023
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Summary:
What is already known about this topic?
Prescriptions for stimulants, primarily used to treat attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), were increasing for adults before the COVID-19 pandemic. Policies enacted during the pandemic expanded access to prescription stimulants via telehealth.
What is added by this report?
The percentage of adolescent and adult females and adult males receiving prescription stimulant fills increased during 2016-2021, particularly during 2020-2021.
What are the implications for public health practice?
Growing recognition of ADHD in adults and increases in prescription stimulant fills raise questions about current adult ADHD care. Development of clinical recommendations for diagnosing and managing adult ADHD could help guide safe and appropriate stimulant prescribing. Evaluation of policies enacted during the pandemic could identify benefits and harms of those policies.