ADHD in the News 2026-01-08
ADHD drugs work, but not the way experts thought
Ritalin and Adderall don’t act on the brain’s attention circuitry, a study found.
Acid Suppressants in Pregnancy Not Linked to Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Kids
Key Takeaways: A large cohort study showed no association between use of acid-suppressant medications in pregnancy and neuropsychiatric outcomes in offspring after controlling for familial factors. Initial analyses showed "modest" increases in risk for these conditions, although absolute risks were still low. However, sibling-control analyses showed no such association, suggesting previous observations, "reflect residual confounding," the researchers concluded.
Adverse Prenatal Exposures Linked to Higher Rates of Mental Health Issues, Brain Changes in Adolescents
In an NIH-funded study led by researchers from Mass General Brigham, children with more adverse prenatal exposures (APEs) showed higher rates of behavior problems that persisted into mid-adolescence, faster cortical thinning across multiple brain regions, and more depressive symptoms than children with fewer APEs. The researchers’ results are published in JAMA Psychiatry.
Early Breastfeeding Protects Preschool Mental Health
TOPLINE: Early breastfeeding, particularly during the first 4 months of life, was associated with fewer emotional and behavioural problems in children at the age of 4 years. Children breastfed for this duration had reduced internalising and externalising problems, aggressive behaviour, and symptoms related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). No additional benefit was observed beyond 8 months of breastfeeding.
Antidepressants in Pregnancy Reassessed
For decades, clinicians have wrestled with a thorny question: Do antidepressants taken during pregnancy increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children? Or do those risks stem from the underlying psychiatric illness itself? A comprehensive new review in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry suggests the answer is more complicated (and, at the same time, more reassuring) than simply risk estimates might suggest.
Antibiotic use during pregnancy linked to slightly increased risk of ADHD
A new comprehensive analysis suggests that maternal use of antibiotics during pregnancy is associated with a slightly elevated likelihood of the child receiving a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The research indicates that this statistical link is stronger when antibiotics are administered during the second or third trimesters. These findings were published recently in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Scientists published a groundbreaking study on school re-openings. Major outlets fumbled the stats.
A new study published in Epidemiology provides evidence that returning to in-person learning during the COVID-19 pandemic benefited children’s mental health. While some mainstream reporting has misinterpreted these results as an absolute drop in cases, the research analyzes insurance claims from California to show that school reopenings instead helped slow the rising rates of mental health diagnoses and related healthcare costs among youth.
A “herculean” genetic study just found a new way to treat ADHD
Summary: Attention depends on the brain’s ability to filter out distractions, but new research suggests this works best when background brain activity is quieter. Scientists found that lowering certain versions of the Homer1 gene improved focus in mice by calming neural noise. The effect was strongest during a critical developmental window. This approach could inspire new treatments for ADHD that work by reducing mental clutter instead of increasing stimulation.
If someone’s always late, is it time blindness, or are they just being rude?
Even as a kid, Alice Lovatt was always getting in trouble for being late. She was often embarrassed after letting down friends for her tardiness, and she was routinely stressed about arriving at school on time. “I just don’t seem to have that clock that ticks by in my head,” said Lovatt, a musician and group-home worker in Liverpool, England.
Help! I Have ADHD and My Finances Are a Mess.
[Excerpt] First of all, congratulations on getting the care and medication you need — I’m so glad it’s helping! But don’t be discouraged that it hasn’t solved everything, especially your finances. “Certain things tend to be a lot harder for people with ADHD, and research shows that money is one of them,” says Dr. Christine Hargrove, a financial therapist who developed a specialty in ADHD after she was diagnosed with it herself a few years ago.
Frequency-Specific Patterns of Functional Connectivity May Serve as Biomarkers for ADHD
Key Point: Compared with healthy control participants, children with ADHD had increased functional connectivity in the right precentral gyrus, which is associated with motor-related neural activity.
Adverse childhood experiences linked to increased ADHD symptoms in college students
A recent study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders provides new evidence that difficult childhood experiences may contribute to symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in young adults. The findings suggest that these adverse events disrupt an individual’s ability to regulate emotions and practice self-compassion, which in turn exacerbates attention and hyperactivity issues.
Uncovering the Complex Relationship Between ADHD and Epilepsy Surgery Outcomes
Janelle Wagner, PhD, a clinical psychologist and research professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, provided clinical insights on a recently presented study on whether elevated ADHD symptoms impact post epilepsy surgery seizure freedom.
Adults with ADHD crave more relationship support but often feel shortchanged
Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder often experience a profound disconnect between the emotional help they crave and the support they feel they receive from romantic partners. A new study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships indicates that the severity of ADHD symptoms directly influences these interpersonal dynamics. The findings suggest that the specific cognitive and emotional patterns associated with the condition can make navigating relationship support uniquely challenging.