Myths About ADHD Can Cause Our Early Deaths
There are two meanings to myths. One is warm and fuzzy—traditional stories. The other is deadly—widely held but false beliefs. Certain myths about ADHD contribute to our early deaths. Famed ADHD researcher Russell Barkley, PhD, recently shocked the ADHD world by telling us that people with undiagnosed ADHD die, on average, twelve years earlier than…
Read MoreRisky Behaviors Associated with ADHD
This research update focuses on risky behaviors associated with ADHD and what can be done to help mitigate these potential risks. What is the connection between risk-taking and ADHD? The first paper reviews research focused on risk-taking behavior in adolescents and adults with ADHD, including the connection between risk-taking and ADHD, underlying factors explaining this…
Read MoreDo Allergies Affect ADHD Treatment?
You may struggle with mental clarity if you have ADHD, but an allergy can affect your cognition even further. ADHD comprises many symptoms and often occurs with comorbid conditions, including seasonal or other allergies and sensitivities. Allergies can muddy our ability to think clearly whether we have ADHD or not. I’ve coached many individuals who…
Read MoreTreating ADHD and Cannabis Use Disorder
Joyce Cooper-Kahn, PhD, interviews Kevin M. Gray, MD Kevin M. Gray, MD, is professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and assistant provost for research advancement at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. As a child and adolescent psychiatrist and physician-scientist, Dr. Gray is dedicated to addressing youth substance use and related problems by…
Read MoreYoung Drivers with ADHD
Our update for this issue focuses on two related questions: How impaired are young drivers with ADHD and how can their driving be improved? More impaired than their peers? The goals of the first study were to assess differences in driving behavior between young adults with and without ADHD, as well as examine how behaviors…
Read MoreHealth Outcomes of ADHD: Is There an Effect on Life Expectancy?
THE MAIN MESSAGE of my presentation at the 2018 conference concerned the health consequences of ADHD. Specifically, I addressed how those consequences might add up over time and accumulate to the point that there might be an adverse effect on a person’s life expectancy. Now, in our study, we looked at that in several ways.…
Read MoreCBD Oil for ADHD? What the Research Says
YOU’VE SEEN THE POP-UP ADS or you’ve heard a friend talk about CBD oil as an alternative treatment for ADHD. Every online community and social media platform seems to have someone praising the compound or offering to sell it. But what is it, and does it really have any proven benefits for managing ADHD symptoms?…
Read MoreCardiovascular Risk and Stimulant Medication
THE FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH ADHD FACE MANY CHALLENGES, including caring for those affected and dealing with the potential side effects associated with therapy. The healthcare system unfortunately has added confusion to ADHD management. In 2006, the FDA released a warning on ADHD medications based on twenty-five reported cases of sudden death in children and…
Read MoreBenefits and Risks of Medication Treatment
THE DECISION TO MEDICATE a child with ADHD is difficult. Likewise, deciding whether someone should begin or stop treatment for ADHD as an adult can also be hard. There is a lot of conflicting information. The news and social media have accounts of people benefiting from medication, while there also are stories extolling grave dangers associated…
Read MoreADHD & Obesity: An Under-Recognized Problem
EATING is one of the most routine things people do, yet healthy eating and weight regulation remain a challenge for many individuals. This is especially true for those with ADHD. Several recent research studies looked at the relationship between ADHD and obesity, citing it as an under-recognized problem. A longitudinal study found that men with…
Read MoreThe Genetics of ADHD
DOCTORS AND SCIENTISTS have long known that ADHD runs in families, and plenty of parents have suspected it. In fact, many parents first realize they might have ADHD after going through the process of their child’s assessment. The science of genetics Genes play a role in everything that makes us individuals, from eye color to…
Read MoreSmartphones in School? A Voice for Change
AS A PARENT COACH AND TEACHER TRAINER, I deal with the challenges created by electronic devices and social media on a daily basis. Parents struggle to set appropriate limits, kids have a hard time regulating their usage, and educators need to manage the balance between using these devices as tools and the unintended consequences they…
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