ADHD

Posted on ADHD

Cannabis for attention issues? How the body’s cannabinoids may influence the symptoms and treatment of ADHD

Medical cannabis relieves symptoms in children with autism

Cannabis, including marijuana and products containing cannabinoids and THC—the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana—has been hailed as a remedy for conditions ranging from anxiety and sleep issues to epilepsy and cancer pain.

Nursing researcher Dr. Jennie Ryan from Thomas Jefferson University is studying the effects of cannabis on symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Current medical guidelines for treating ADHD include medications like Adderall and cognitive behavioural therapy. As with most treatments, these options can offer benefits while also presenting certain downsides. Dr. Ryan notes, “Parents are interested in cannabidiol, which does not contain THC. However, we currently lack sufficient scientific evidence to support its use.”

In a recent review paper, Dr. Ryan and her colleagues examined the scientific literature to gather evidence regarding the interactions between cannabis and ADHD. The researchers specifically focused on how cannabis use impacts ADHD symptoms. Additionally, since the human body produces its cannabinoids through the endocannabinoid system, they explored how this endogenous system might influence ADHD. They analyzed both clinical and preclinical findings, which collectively suggest that cannabis affects the endocannabinoid system in various ways, ultimately influencing attention, hyperactivity, and anxiety.

“Dr. Ryan acknowledges that there is a relationship between cannabis use and ADHD. However, she notes that this relationship is complicated by the wide variety of cannabis products available, the numerous types of endocannabinoids, their biological pathways, and the different ways ADHD can present in individuals. Separating and understanding all these factors is extremely challenging. Additionally, researchers studying cannabis face legal restrictions surrounding marijuana that hinder their efforts.”

Co-author Brooke Worster, MD, specializes in pain management and palliative care, says she suspected the published evidence would be sparse. When that was what they found, “I wasn’t super surprised,” she says. “Still, it is shocking how many holes there are. We have a lot of work ahead.”

Posted on ADHD

Meltdowns in young children could be linked to ADHD, study finds

Preschool children who struggle to control their emotions and behaviour have more symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – known as ADHD - at age seven, a study suggests.
Preschool children who struggle to control their emotions and behaviour have more symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – known as ADHD – at age seven, a study suggests.

Preschool children who find it difficult to control their emotions and behaviour exhibit more symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – known as ADHD – by age seven, according to a study.

Children aged between three and seven who are slower at acquiring skills to manage their intense emotions were also found to be at risk of displaying more conduct issues.

Experts say children were also more likely to show internalising behaviours at age seven, such as sadness and worries.

The study, led by the University of Edinburgh, is among the first to examine the links between early patterns of emotion regulation and school-age mental health.

The findings could help tailor targeted support for children who may benefit from enhanced preventative care before mental health issues emerge, researchers say.

Researchers at the Universities of Edinburgh, Northumbria and Oxford analysed a large dataset to test whether the progression of emotional development among children aged three to seven is related to the risk of common mental health issues.

They examined data from the UK Millennium Cohort Study, which follows the lives of around 19,000 young people born in 2000-02.

The researchers analysed questionnaires and interviews which surveyed parents on their children’s conduct, social behaviours, and emotional regulation skills.

They used statistical techniques to measure the link between emotional problems, conduct problems and ADHD symptoms at age seven.

Findings showed that a tendency to have extreme emotional responses and slower development in the ability to regulate those emotions was significantly associated with ADHD symptoms, internalising symptoms, and conduct problems in both male and female children at age seven.

This was the case even when other factors such as data on any pre-existing neurodevelopmental and mental health issues were taken into account.

Dr Aja Murray, of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, who led the study, said: “Emotion regulation skills are acquired from early in life and are thought to strengthen gradually over childhood. Children, however, acquire these skills at different rates and slower acquisition may serve as a marker for neurodevelopmental and mental health issues. Our findings suggest that monitoring trajectories of emotion regulation over development could help identity which children are at risk of mental health issues.”

Posted on ADHD

ADHD: What You Need to Know – A Q&A with Dr. Stephen Hinshaw

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental health disorders in children. On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 7 p.m. EDT, the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) will host a webinar designed to help parents and educators better understand this disorder. Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein, President and CEO of BBRF, along with Dr. Stephen Hinshaw, Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, will discuss the symptoms of ADHD, the differences in presentation between boys and girls and will provide advice for caregivers and educators on how to help young people lead successful lives after a diagnosis.

Register HERE for this free event.

About Brain & Behavior Research Foundation 
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation provides research grants to develop better treatments, cures, and prevention methods for mental illnesses. These include conditions such as addiction, ADHD, anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders, OCD, PTSD, and schizophrenia, as well as initiatives focused on suicide prevention.  Since its establishment in 1987, the Foundation has awarded over $461 million to fund more than 5,600 leading scientists worldwide. Significantly, 100% of every dollar donated is invested directly in research. The Foundation has separate grants that cover its operating expenses. Additionally, BBRF produces the Emmy®-nominated public television series “Healthy Minds” with Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein, which seeks to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and illustrates that there is hope for recovery with assistance.

Posted on ADHD, Mental health, Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis drug may help with poor working memory

A USC study of prescription data shows that people with Medicaid or Medicare Part D may be missing out on powerful new obesity and diabetes drugs

Fampridine is currently used to improve walking ability in individuals with multiple sclerosis. A new study indicates that it may also assist people with reduced working memory, which is often observed in mental health conditions like schizophrenia or depression.

Working memory is essential for everyday tasks, such as remembering a code long enough to type it in and engaging in conversations by reacting appropriately to what others say. It allows us to retain information for a brief period actively, typically a few seconds. However, certain conditions, including schizophrenia, depression, and ADHD, can impair working memory. Individuals affected by these conditions may struggle to follow conversations and to organize their thoughts effectively.

Fampridine is a drug that could help in such cases, as researchers led by Professor Andreas Papassotiropoulos and Professor Dominique de Quervain at the University of Basel have shown.

Practical only if working memory is poor

In their study, the researchers tested the effectiveness of fampridine on working memory in 43 healthy adults. Fampridine showed a more pronounced effect in participants whose baseline working memory was low. After taking the active substance for three days, they scored better in the relevant tests than those who took the placebo. In contrast, the drug showed no effect in people with good baseline working memory.

The researchers also observed that fampridine increased brain excitability in all participants, thus enabling faster processing of stimuli. The study was randomized and double-blind.

The established drug, a new application

“Fampridine doesn’t improve everyone’s working memory. But it could be a treatment option for those with reduced working memory,” explains Andreas Papassotiropoulos. Dominique de Quervain adds: “That’s why, together with researchers from the University Psychiatric Clinics Basel (UPK), we’re planning studies to test the efficacy of fampridine in schizophrenia and depression.”

The drug is currently used to improve walking ability in multiple sclerosis (MS). Particularly in capsule form, which releases the active ingredient slowly in the body, fampridine has shown effects on cognitive performance in MS patients. For some, it alleviates the mental fatigue that can accompany MS.

The researchers did not select the drug at random. This study followed comprehensive analyses of genome data to find starting points for repurposing established drugs. Fampridine acts on specific ion channels in nerve cells that, according to the researchers’ analyses, also play a role in mental disorders such as schizophrenia.

Posted on ADHD, Autism

Five signs you have both ADHD and autism

5 signs you have ADHD and autism - YouTube


In this video, I discuss my experiences living with both autism and ADHD, focusing on my inner perspective. While ADHD and autism share many similarities, they also have conflicting traits, which can make it challenging to navigate at times.