ADHD in the News 2025-07-03
US FDA to revise ADHD stimulants labels to warn of weight loss risk in children under 6
June 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Monday it is revising the labeling of all extended-release stimulants used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder to include warnings about the risk of weight loss and other side effects in patients under six years old. The FDA said that it is requiring a "limitation of use" section in the prescribing information of all extended-release stimulants to include a statement on higher rates of adverse reactions in children younger than six years.
ADHD diagnoses growing, but many women remain undiagnosed
Nearly 2 million adults have ADHD, and many women don’t learn until adulthood. Experts say masking and gender bias keep symptoms hidden for years.
Rethinking adult ADHD
The diagnostic category of adult ADHD is becoming more inclusive. That’s not the same as it being overdiagnosed
Fact or fiction? The ADHD info dilemma
[Excerpt] Their findings, published in the journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, revealed that exposure to ADHD misinformation on TikTok significantly reduced students' accurate understanding of the disorder. The study's lead author, Ashley Schiros, a Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology at Syracuse University, notes that this is concerning because such narratives could reshape public perceptions of ADHD in ways that do not align with established scientific knowledge.
Is that really ADHD? Why flawed trials may be misleading millions
Summary: Researchers reviewing nearly 300 top-tier ADHD drug trials found that half skipped the rigorous, expert-led evaluations needed to rule out other conditions like depression or schizophrenia. With diagnoses often made by unqualified staff—or even by computer—many participants may not have actually had ADHD, casting doubt on study outcomes that shape treatment guidelines.
MIND diet linked to better attentional control in schoolchildren, study finds
A study of schoolchildren found that children whose diets more closely resembled the MIND diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) performed better on a cognitive task measuring attentional control.
Investigating the role of ultra-processed foods in the inheritance of autism and ADHD
In a recent publication released by PubMed, American scientist Dr. Renee Dufault at the Food Ingredient and Health Research Institute, provides a peer-reviewed protocol for determining the role ultra-processed foods play in prenatal heavy metal exposures and changes in the expression of the zinc dependent MT-1 (metallothionein) gene that impact child neurodevelopment.
Fact-checking the MAHA report’s claims about ADHD
Understood’s ecosystem research team reviewed the Make America Healthy Again Report and found multiple misleading claims.
Physical Activity Variability Is Inversely Linked to ADHD Symptoms in Children
Higher physical activity variability is associated with lower teacher-reported hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive symptoms in early elementary school children, according to study results published in the Journal of Attention Disorders. Additionally, physical activity volume was positively associated with teacher reports of hyperactive/impulsive symptoms.
Many children suffering ongoing COVID symptoms
[Excerpt] Children with pre-existing health conditions, such as asthma or ADHD, were more likely to develop post-COVID symptoms. However, many previously healthy children also reported new difficulties, including fatigue, persistent coughs, concentration issues, and sleep disturbances.
Creativity in autism may stem from co-occurring ADHD, not autism itself
For years, creativity has been celebrated as a possible strength in people with autism. From anecdotal reports of autistic savants to growing calls for strength-based education and employment programs, the idea that autism is linked to enhanced creativity has gained traction in research and popular media alike. But a new study published in the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science challenges this assumption.
Schoolchildren born late in the year may face greater risk of developing mental health problems
A recent study by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has found that children born in October, November or December are statistically more often identified as having a mental health diagnosis than their classmates born earlier in the year. The findings apply to both boys and girls, and regardless of whether they were born full term or prematurely.