Entries tagged as ADHD

Mouse Model Reveals A Cause of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

On February 23, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In ADHD, Neuroscience / No Comments

Although it is typically considered an adolescent curse, ADHD actually affects about five percent of adults as well. New research in a mouse model of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) suggests that the root of the psychiatric disorder might be the over-activity of a protein that regulates dopaminergic pathways. The work suggests a path toward new treatments for symptoms including inattentiveness, over-activity, and impulsivity. (continue reading)

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More Evidence That Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Is Related To Alterations In The Brain’s Reward System

On February 16, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In ADHD / No Comments

Last week, we reported on “Deficits In Brain’s Reward System Observed In ADHD Patients.” In different, but similar study, researchers at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital for the first time have discovered anomalies in the brain’s reward system related to the neural circuits of motivation and gratification. In children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the degree of motivation when carrying out an activity is related to the immediacy with which the objectives of the activity are met. This would explain why their attention and hyperactivity levels differ depending on the tasks being carried out. (continue reading)

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Neural Processing Differences In ADHD In Individuals With And Without Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

On February 10, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In ADHD / No Comments

The adverse effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on behavioral, cognitive, and social development can lead to a range of symptoms referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Attention and cognition problems seen in individuals with a history of prenatal alcohol exposure often resemble those linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). An assessment of these disorders has found that while children with FASD may meet the behavioral criteria for ADHD, their attention difficulties differ in subtle but important respects. (continue reading)

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Deficits In Brain’s Reward System Observed In ADHD Patients

On February 6, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In ADHD, Brain Imaging / No Comments

A brain-imaging study conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory provides the first definitive evidence that patients suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have lower-than-normal levels of certain proteins essential for experiencing reward and motivation. “These deficits in the brain’s reward system may help explain clinical symptoms of ADHD, including inattention and reduced motivation, as well as the propensity for complications such as drug abuse and obesity among ADHD patients,” said lead author Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and a long-time collaborator on neuroimaging research at Brookhaven Lab. (continue reading)

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Common Plastic Chemicals Linked To ADHD Symptoms: Are Phthalates Really Safe For Children?

On February 3, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In ADHD / No Comments

Phthalates are important components of many consumer products, including toys, cleaning materials, plastics, and personal care items. Studies to date on phthalates have been inconsistent, with some linking exposure to these chemicals to hormone disruptions, birth defects, asthma, and reproductive problems, while others have found no significant association between exposure and adverse effects. A new report by Korean scientists, published by Elsevier in the November 15th issue of Biological Psychiatry, adds to the potentially alarming findings about phthalates. They measured urine phthalate concentrations and evaluated symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using teacher-reported symptoms and computerized tests that measured attention and impulsivity. (continue reading)

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Exposure To Tobacco Smoke And Lead Raises Risk Of ADHD

On February 2, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In ADHD, Tobacco / No Comments

Children exposed prenatally to tobacco smoke and during childhood to lead face a particularly high risk for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) according to research done at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. The study estimates that up to 35 percent of ADHD cases in children between the ages of 8 and 15 could be reduced by eliminating both of these environmental exposures. This could translate into up to 800,000 children. The study is to be published online Nov. 23 by Pediatrics. (continue reading)

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EEG Analysis Reveals Disconnect Between Brain Regions In Children With ADHD

On January 24, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In ADHD, QEEG / No Comments

Two brain areas fail to connect when children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) attempt a task that measures attention, according to researchers at the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain and M.I.N.D. Institute. “This is the first time that we have direct evidence that this connectivity is missing in ADHD,” said Ali Mazaheri, postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Mind and Brain. Mazaheri and his colleagues made the discovery by analyzing the brain activity in children with ADHD. The paper appears in the current online issue of the journal Biological Psychiatry. (continue reading)

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Excellent Free Resource: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) eBook

On October 5, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In ADHD / No Comments

NIH_ADHD_ebook“Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” (ADHD) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a free, full color 28 page ebook. This ebook provides answers to common questions posed by the recently diagnosed and by parents of children with ADHD. As with all NIH publications, an evidenced-based explanation of the disorder and its available treatment options is given in simple language that is suitable for the general public and for psychologists/physician handouts to their patients. Check the end of this review for a link to download this free PDF ebook. (more…)

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U.S. News and World Report Lists Neurofeedback As 1 of 9 Drug Free Treatments For ADHD

On August 15, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In ADHD, Neurofeedback / No Comments

newspaperU.S. News and World Report recently listed neurofeedback among 9 drug free treatments of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that consumers should consider. The author discusses why some parents are inclined to seek out “alternative” or behavioral treatments and cites evidence that stimulant drugs, such as Ritalin, may not provide long term relief and may even stunt kid’s growth. The field of neurofeedback deserves all of the positive national attention it can garner so I was pleased with its mention. Check the end of this review for a link to the complete U.S. News and World Report story. (more…)

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Neurofeedback for ADHD Achieves A “Level 5 – Efficacious and Specific” Efficacy Rating

On July 16, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In ADHD, Neurofeedback / No Comments

children_studyingIn a huge development for the field of biofeedback, researchers* classified neurofeedback for childhood Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as “Level 5 – Efficacious and Specific” – the highest available efficacy rating established by ISNR and AABP. The investigators utilized a statistical technique called a meta-analysis to arrive at the results. Speaking from personal experience, neurofeedback clinicians have long known the powerful effects of EEG biofeedback for childhood attention and hyperactivity difficulties. Research trickled out over the years to provide support of these anecdotal clinical observations, but several recent well designed neurofeedback/ADHD studies allowed researchers to collect a minimum number of quality studies to conduct the current meta-analysis. For example, see Children With ADHD Realize Significant Benefits From Neurofeedback Training In a Randomized Clinical Trial reviewed on this website in February 2009. (more…)

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Children With ADHD Realize Significant Benefits From Neurofeedback Training In a Randomized Clinical Trial

On February 20, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In ADHD, Neurofeedback / 1 Comment

brain_waves In a yet unpublished study (in press), researchers* report that children with ADHD who underwent neurofeedback training in a randomized clinical trial realized significant improvements on numerous home and school behavioral rating scales. The study included a large sample size, randomized assignment to an experimental or control group, semi-blinded parents to their child’s treatment condition, and great care to insure that all groups received equal treatment from the researchers. Why is this important? Many previous neurofeedback studies lack these type of experimental controls and/or have small samples. The more rigorous design used in the study under discussion today provides important empirical validation of neurofeedback and will probably go on to become a very important study for the field of neurofeedback and children with ADHD. (more…)

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NIMH Funds Investigation Into Neurofeedback for ADHD

On July 28, 2008 / By Chris Fisher / In ADHD, Neurofeedback, News / No Comments

nih-nimh-news-updateThe National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) recently announced their funding of a randomized, placebo controlled study that will investigate the efficacy of neurofeedback for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The research group is from Ohio State University. (more…)

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