ADHD in the News 2026-04-30
Brain scans reveal 3 ADHD subtypes, including a more extreme form
Researchers identified a more severe presentation of the condition marked by emotional dysregulation.
AI Tool May Spot ADHD Years Before Children Are Diagnosed
New research shows routine medical records could help flag risk early, when support matters most
New study examines relationship between parenting and gaming disorder in young children with ADHD
A new Children's Hospital of Philadelphia study examines the relationship between parenting factors and gaming disorder in young children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Findings from the study were presented during the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2026 Meeting, taking place April 24–27 in Boston.
ADHD medication surges for young women
Stimulant use has spiked in the post-pandemic era, particularly among young adult women.
Why it matters: Demand for ADHD medications is surging, but the drugs may not be reaching the people who need them the most.
Driving the news: The latest data point comes from Trilliant Health, which found a 94% increase in stimulant prescriptions for commercially insured women ages 18-44 between 2018 and 2024.
ADHD With SUD Comorbidity Linked to Higher Risk for Treatment Discontinuation
Key point: Patients with comorbid substance use disorder were significantly less likely to reinitiate ADHD medication following a treatment gap, with the lowest reinitiation rates observed in those with substance-related criminal involvement.
Children with mental health conditions more likely to claim benefits as adults
The link between childhood mental illness, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and adverse economic outcomes in adulthood is more prevalent and stronger than previously thought according to research from the University of Aberdeen.
Finding ADHD Friendly Occupations – Part 1: What Factors promote Success
Focuses on the features of jobs that adults with ADHD need to consider in realizing a better match between themselves and their chosen occupations. I also discuss a variety of occupations in which adults with ADHD have found success. Many of those occupations are in nontraditional pathways such as performing arts, athletics, self-employment, etc.
Study reframes ADHD as disorder of energy regulation
The number of people in Europe diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has continued to rise steadily, not only among children, but increasingly among adults and women. Despite this, it is still not clear why individuals with the symptoms of ADHD experience sudden lapses in cognitive performance. A recent study proposes a model that provides new neurobiological explanations. ADHD may be less about a deficit of attention and more about a "metabolic contingency" that provides sufficient neural energy. Neurobiologist Mohammad Dawood Rahimi of Freie Universität Berlin presented his model of energy deficit hyperactivity disorder (EDHD) in the journal Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews.
You’ve Been Diagnosed With ADHD as an Adult — Now What?
If you just received a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as an adult, you may feel relieved to finally have an answer but unsure how this news changes things. About half of the estimated 15.5 million adults in the United States diagnosed with ADHD in 2023 learned about their condition in adulthood.[1] Yet knowing where to turn for help isn’t always clear because much of the available information is geared toward children.
AuDHD means being autistic and having ADHD. And it can look very different to a single diagnosis
When you finally receive a neurodevelopmental diagnosis that reflects your strengths and the challenges you face, it can be life-changing. But for people with both autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – known colloquially as AuDHD – getting the right diagnosis can be difficult.
Add-On ADHD Medications Linked to Lower Risk for Hospitalization in Bipolar Disorder
Key point: Adjunctive use of stimulants like lisdexamfetamine and methylphenidate was associated with a significantly lower risk for psychiatric hospitalizations in patients with bipolar disorder.
Group averages obscure how an individual’s brain controls behavior, Stanford Medicine study finds
Studying brain scan data from individuals — not group averages — reveals key brain-function differences in children who struggle with goal-oriented tasks, a Stanford Medicine study found.
ADHD and Sleep Disorders: Watching for Comorbid Sleep Issues
Amit Chopra, MD, shares an overview of his upcoming presentation on sleep disorders in teens and young adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with emphasis on clinical identification and management.
Sleep and age shape EEG brain signals during wakefulness
Clinicians use electroencephalography (EEG) to assess brain activity in epilepsy and sleep pathologies, and this powerful tool has shown promise for other conditions. Emerging evidence suggests that brain development, age, and the time of day affect EEG signals measured during sleep. In a new eNeuro paper, researchers at the University Children's Hospital of Zurich explored how differences in brain development, age, and sleep affect measures of EEG signals recorded from awake individuals.