Where Does ADHD Come From?
Behavioral genetic (SUCH AS TWIN STUDIES) AND MOLECULAR GENETIC STUDIES have made it clear that genetic influences play an outsized role in explaining why some people have more ADHD-related traits than other people do. Yet, large epidemiological studies have made it equally clear that several environmental exposures are also associated with ADHD. For example, ADHD is…
Read MoreRemote Learning for Children with ADHD
How are children with ADHD faring with the shift to remote learning during the pandemic? What are parental factors that enhance child learning and well-being? This update on recent research reviews two studies. The first study found no negative short-term impact on academic outcomes for children with ADHD with the shift to remote learning, although…
Read MoreTeens, ADHD, and Driving
Teens with ADHD are more likely to have traffic stops with police than their neurotypical friends, and sometimes those stops escalate and result in detention at the police station. The best time to prepare yourself and your teen for this is before it happens. Begin by understanding that your teen’s behavior can be “caused by…
Read MoreMyths 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…
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