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Breakthrough study finds genetic link to Parkinson's and ADHD

<p>A major scientific study has found a surprising link between the genes that control brain size and the risk of brain-related conditions. </p> <p>A Queensland Institute of Medical Research Associate Professor Miguel Renteria led an international team of experts who scanned DNA data and MRI scans from 76,000 participants.</p> <p>“Genetic variants associated with larger brain volumes in key brain regions also increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease, while variants linked to smaller brain volumes in key regions are associated with an increased risk of ADHD,” Renteria said. </p> <p>“It brings us closer to answering key questions about how genetics influence brain structure, and how we can potentially treat these conditions in future.”</p> <p>Parkinson’s Australia CEO Olivia Nassaris has celebrated the results of the study, saying the surprising results open the door to future treatment options for Parkinson’s, which currently has no cure or cause.</p> <p>“The more answers we have the closer we are to understanding this condition,” she said.</p> <p>Michael Wiseman, who has been living with Parkinson’s for eight years, said he is pleased more research is being done about the neurodegenerative condition.</p> <p>“I know it’s not going to benefit me in any way, as far as a cure or anything … I just hope they keep going, kicking some goals and finding results because it’s an insidious sort of thing, it’s a passenger I’ll have until I go to the grave.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Caring

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What’s the difference between ADD and ADHD?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kathy-gibbs-1392051">Kathy Gibbs</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a></em></p> <p>Around <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/attention-deficit-disorder-add-or-adhd#:%7E:text=Around%201%20in%20every%2020,have%20symptoms%20as%20an%20adult.">one in 20 people</a> has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood.</p> <p>ADHD is <a href="https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm">diagnosed</a> when people experience problems with inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity that negatively impacts them at school or work, in social settings and at home.</p> <p>Some people call the condition attention-deficit disorder, or ADD. So what’s the difference?</p> <p>In short, what was previously called ADD is now known as ADHD. So how did we get here?</p> <h2>Let’s start with some history</h2> <p>The <a href="https://www.guilford.com/books/Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder/Russell-Barkley/9781462538874">first clinical description</a> of children with inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity was in 1902. British paediatrician Professor George Still <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26740929/">presented</a> a series of lectures about his observations of 43 children who were defiant, aggressive, undisciplined and extremely emotional or passionate.</p> <p>Since then, our understanding of the condition evolved and made its way into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, known as the DSM. Clinicians use the DSM to diagnose mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions.</p> <p>The first DSM, published in 1952, did not include a specific related child or adolescent category. But the <a href="https://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.books.9780890420355.dsm-ii">second edition</a>, published in 1968, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00207411.2015.1009310">included a section</a> on behaviour disorders in young people. It referred to ADHD-type characteristics as “hyperkinetic reaction of childhood or adolescence”. This described the excessive, involuntary movement of children with the disorder.</p> <p>In the early 1980s, the <a href="https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm/about-dsm/history-of-the-dsm">third DSM</a> added a condition it called “attention deficit disorder”, listing two types: attention deficit disorder <em>with</em> hyperactivity (ADDH) and attention deficit disorder as the subtype <em>without</em> the hyperactivity.</p> <p>However, seven years later, a revised DSM (DSM-III-R) replaced ADD (and its two sub-types) with ADHD and three sub-types we have today:</p> <ul> <li>predominantly inattentive</li> <li>predominantly hyperactive-impulsive</li> <li>combined.</li> </ul> <h2>Why change ADD to ADHD?</h2> <p>ADHD replaced ADD in the DSM-III-R in 1987 for a number of reasons.</p> <p>First was the controversy and debate over the presence or absence of hyperactivity: the “H” in ADHD. When ADD was <a href="https://www.guilford.com/books/Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder/Russell-Barkley/9781462538874">initially named</a>, little research had been done to determine the similarities and differences between the two sub-types.</p> <p>The next issue was around the term “attention-deficit” and whether these deficits were similar or different across both sub-types. Questions also arose about the extent of these differences: if these sub-types were so different, were they actually different conditions?</p> <p>Meanwhile, a new focus on inattention (an “attention deficit”) recognised that children with inattentive behaviours <a href="https://academic.oup.com/shm/article/30/4/767/2919401">may not necessarily be</a> disruptive and challenging but are more likely to be forgetful and daydreamers.</p> <h2>Why do some people use the term ADD?</h2> <p>There was a <a href="https://academic.oup.com/shm/article/30/4/767/2919401">surge of diagnoses</a> in the 1980s. So it’s understandable that some people still hold onto the term ADD.</p> <p>Some may identify as having ADD because out of habit, because this is what they were originally diagnosed with or because they don’t have hyperactivity/impulsivity traits.</p> <p>Others who don’t have ADHD may use the term they came across in the 80s or 90s, not knowing the terminology has changed.</p> <h2>How is ADHD currently diagnosed?</h2> <p>The three sub-types of ADHD, outlined in the DSM-5 are:</p> <ul> <li> <p>predominantly inattentive. People with the inattentive sub-type have difficulty sustaining concentration, are easily distracted and forgetful, lose things frequently, and are unable to follow detailed instructions</p> </li> <li> <p>predominantly hyperactive-impulsive. Those with this sub-type find it hard to be still, need to move constantly in structured situations, frequently interrupt others, talk non-stop and struggle with self control</p> </li> <li> <p>combined. Those with the combined sub-type experience the characteristics of those who are inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive.</p> </li> </ul> <p>ADHD diagnoses <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/australias-children/contents/health/children-mental-illness">continue to rise</a> among children and adults. And while ADHD was commonly diagnosed in boys, more recently we have seen growing numbers of girls and women seeking diagnoses.</p> <p>However, some international experts <a href="https://academic.oup.com/shm/article/30/4/767/2919401">contest</a> the expanded definition of ADHD, driven by clinical practice in the United States. They argue the challenges of unwanted behaviours and educational outcomes for young people with the condition are uniquely shaped by each country’s cultural, political and local factors.</p> <p>Regardless of the name change to reflect what we know about the condition, ADHD continues to impact educational, social and life situations of many children, adolescents and adults.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225162/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kathy-gibbs-1392051">Kathy Gibbs</a>, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-add-and-adhd-225162">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Mind

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How do stimulants actually work to reduce ADHD symptoms?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mary-bushell-919262">Mary Bushell</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</a></em></p> <p>Stimulants are <a href="https://adhdguideline.aadpa.com.au/">first-line drugs</a> for children and adults diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But how do they actually work?</p> <h2>First, let’s look at the brain</h2> <p>ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, which means it affects how the brain functions.</p> <p>Medical imaging indicates people with ADHD may have slight differences in their brain’s <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/195386">structure</a>, the way their brain regions work together to perform tasks, and how their brain’s chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters, pass on information.</p> <p>These brain differences are associated with the symptoms of ADHD, including inattention, impulse control and problems with memory.</p> <h2>What stimulants are prescribed in Australia?</h2> <p>The three main stimulants prescribed for ADHD in Australia are dexamfetamine, methylphenidate (sold under the brand names Ritalin and Concerta) and lisdexamfetamine (sold as Vyvanse).</p> <p>Dexamfetamine and methylphenidate have been around <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3666194/">since</a> the 1930s and 1940s respectively. Lisdexamfetamine is a newer stimulant that has been around <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873712/">since</a> the late 2000s.</p> <p>Dexamfetamine and lisdexamfetamine are amphetamines. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873712/">Lisdexamfetamine</a> is inactive when it’s taken and actually changes into active dexamfetamine in the red blood cells. This is what’s known as a “prodrug”.</p> <h2>So how do they work for ADHD?</h2> <p>Stimulant drugs are thought to alter the activity of key neuotransmitters, dopamine and noradrenaline, in the brain. These neurotransmitters help with attention and focus, among other things.</p> <p>Stimulants increase the amount of dopamine and noradrenaline in the tiny gaps between neurons, known as synapses. They do this by predominantly blocking a transporter that then prevents their re-uptake back into the neuron that released them.</p> <p>This means more dopamine and noradrenaline can bind to their respective receptors. This <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/auspar-lisdexamfetamine-dimesilate-180515-pi.pdf">helps</a> connected neurons in the brain talk to one another.</p> <p>Amphetamines also increase the amount of dopamine the neuron releases into the synapse (the tiny gaps between neurons). And it stops the enzymes that break down dopamine. This results in an increase of dopamine in the synapse.</p> <h2>What effect do they have on ADHD symptoms?</h2> <p>We still don’t fully understand the underlying brain mechanisms that change behaviour in people with ADHD.</p> <p>But <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6109107/">research shows</a> stimulants that modulate noradrenaline and dopamine can improve brain processes such as:</p> <ul> <li>attention</li> <li>memory</li> <li>decision-making</li> <li>task completion</li> <li>hyperactivity.</li> </ul> <p>They can also improve general behaviour, such as self-control, not talking over the top of others, and concentration. These behaviours are important for social interactions.</p> <p>Stimulants <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15737659/">reduce ADHD symptoms</a> in about 70% to 80% of children and adults who take them.</p> <p>Some people will notice their symptoms improve right away. Other times, these improvements will be more noticeable to parents, carers, teachers, colleagues and partners.</p> <h2>Not everyone gets the same dose</h2> <p>The optimal stimulant dose varies between individuals, with multiple dosage options available.</p> <p>This enables a “start low, go slow” approach, where the stimulant can be gradually increased to the most effective dose for the individual.</p> <p>There are also different delivery options.</p> <p>Dexamfetamine and methylphenidate are available in immediate-release preparations. As these have short half-lives (meaning they act quickly and wear off rapidly), they are often taken multiple times a day – usually in the morning, lunch and afternoon.</p> <p>Methylphenidate is also <a href="https://www.ebs.tga.gov.au/ebs/picmi/picmirepository.nsf/pdf?OpenAgent&amp;id=CP-2010-PI-03175-3&amp;d=20231023172310101">available</a> in long-acting tablets (Concerta) and capsules (Ritalin LA). They are released into the body over the day.</p> <p>Lisdexamfetamine is a long-acting drug and is not available in a short-acting formulation.</p> <p>The long-acting stimulants are generally taken once in the morning. This avoids the need to take tablets during school or work hours (and the need to store a “controlled drug”, which has the potential for abuse, outside the home).</p> <h2>What are the side effects?</h2> <p>The most common side effects are sleep problems and decreased appetite. A <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD012069.pub2/full">recent study</a> showed children and young people taking methylphenidate for ADHD were around 2.6 times more likely to have sleep problems and 15 times more likely to have a decreased appetite than those not taking methylphenidate.</p> <p>Headache and abdominal pain are also relatively common.</p> <h2>Can someone without ADHD take a stimulant to improve productivity?</h2> <p>Stimulants are tightly controlled because of their potential for abuse. In Australia, only paediatricians, psychiatrists or neurologists (and GPs in special circumstances) can prescribe them. This follows a long assessment process.</p> <p>As stimulants increase dopamine, they can cause euphoria and a heightened sense of wellbeing. They can also cause <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK576548/#:%7E:text=The%20immediate%20psychological%20effects%20of,and%20may%20result%20in%20insomnia.">weight loss</a>.</p> <p>A common myth about stimulant medicines is they can improve the concentration and productivity of people without ADHD. A <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.add4165">recent study shows</a> the opposite is true.</p> <p>This study gave a group of 40 people online arithmetic tasks to complete across four sessions. At each of the sessions, participants were given either a placebo or a stimulant before completing the task.</p> <p>The results showed that while stimulants did not impact getting the correct answer, it increased the number of moves and time to solve the problems compared to a placebo. This indicates a reduction in productivity.</p> <p>However, the myth that stimulants improve study prevails. It’s likely that users feel different – after all, they are taking a medicine that speeds up messages between the brain and body. It may make them “feel” more alert and productive, even if they’re not.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/215801/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mary-bushell-919262"><em>Mary Bushell</em></a><em>, Clinical Assistant Professor in Pharmacy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-do-stimulants-actually-work-to-reduce-adhd-symptoms-215801">original article</a>.</em></p>

Mind

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Autism and ADHD assessment waits are up to 2 years’ long. What can families do in the meantime?

<p>Reports have emerged from around Australia of waitlists of <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/unacceptable-wait-to-screen-children-for-developmental-delays-autism-20220125-p59r1d.html">up to two years</a> to receive a diagnostic assessment for neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).</p> <p>Assessment delays can create additional stress for families who are already worrying their child may be developing differently.</p> <p>These waiting times are a symptom of the significant strain our health systems are under. System reform will take time, and in the meantime, there are many children who require urgent support.</p> <p>But supporting your child doesn’t need to be put on hold while you wait for assessment.</p> <p><strong>Why are waitlists so long?</strong></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/wondering-about-adhd-autism-and-your-childs-development-what-to-know-about-getting-a-neurodevelopmental-assessment-197528">Diagnostic assessments</a> are an important part of the <a href="https://www.autismcrc.com.au/access/national-guideline">clinical pathway</a> for children developing differently.</p> <p>Diagnoses can provide parents and carers with a deeper understanding of their child. A diagnosis allows the child, their family and the supporting health professionals to benefit from all the information we have about that diagnosis, to understand how best to <a href="https://www.autismcrc.com.au/access/supporting-children">support the child going forward</a>.</p> <p>One reason why our diagnostic systems are currently under so much strain is because of expanding diagnostic boundaries. The criteria for autism and ADHD have <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-deficits-to-a-spectrum-thinking-around-autism-has-changed-now-there-are-calls-for-a-profound-autism-diagnosis-194049">changed over time</a>, meaning more children meet criteria for these conditions than before.</p> <p>Another reason is that our health, disability and education systems often require a formal diagnosis for a child to receive support. This further increases demand for diagnostic assessments.</p> <p>Often, long waitlists result in children and families not getting timely access to crucial early therapy services. Delays can mean that many of the best opportunities to support children’s development early in life are missed, which can further <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1750946719301849">entrench developmental disability and disadvantage</a>.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Parents turn to equine therapy for children with autism, ADHD as disability services wait times blow out <a href="https://t.co/JezFJ2TmuV">https://t.co/JezFJ2TmuV</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/ABCaustralia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABCaustralia</a></p> <p>— Robert Koenig-Luck (@koenig_luck) <a href="https://twitter.com/koenig_luck/status/1645227611193475077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>However, importantly, there are many beneficial things that families can do in the meantime to pave the way for the future.</p> <p><strong>3 things families can do</strong></p> <p>While a diagnosis may help a child access support services, they are still able to access services without a diagnosis.</p> <p>If a parent is worried about their child’s development, then it is important they continue to seek out support services while the child is on a diagnostic waitlist.</p> <p>A GP is typically the best person to consult in the first instance. They can then refer the child and family to public or private therapy services. However, private service options may involve out-of-pocket expenses, which can create inequity in access to services.</p> <p>Parents can also take steps to:</p> <p><strong>1. Build connections with their child</strong></p> <p>A key part of all early supports is nurturing the connection parents have with their child. All children benefit from having frequent, meaningful time set aside to <a href="https://clinikids.telethonkids.org.au/information-hub/blog/serve-and-return-interactions/">connect</a> with their primary caregivers.</p> <p>During this special connection time, parents might focus on slowing down, approaching their child with curiosity, being open to following their child’s special interests, and trying a variety of communication strategies (including words, gestures or using pictures) to <a href="https://clinikids.telethonkids.org.au/information-hub/blog/shared-attention/">support communication</a>.</p> <p>Parents needn’t feel pressure to spend all their time engaging with their child – but any time that can be dedicated to this will be time well spent.</p> <p><strong>2. Gather information to support diagnosis</strong></p> <p>Diagnoses of <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/diagnosis.html">ADHD</a> and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html">autism</a> are based on the observation of certain behaviours. A clinician will be able to observe some of these behaviours in their assessment, but they will also rely on information from parents about how their child usually behaves or interacts in different situations.</p> <p>Parents can support this process by noting examples of the patterns of behaviours they’ve observed. These might include special interests, repetitive activities, social interactions, emotional regulation, sensory preferences or how their child communicates.</p> <p>It is important parents don’t only note what a child finds difficult, but also their strengths and interests. Sometimes, the things a child is particularly good at can tell us just as much as their challenges.</p> <p><strong>3. Prioritise family wellbeing</strong></p> <p>While parents are often proactive in seeking support for their child, they can sometimes neglect their own need for support. Parents are the most important person in a child’s life, and parental capacity and wellbeing can have a significant influence on their child’s outcomes.</p> <p>While waiting for a diagnosis, parents should start to plan how they are also going to get the support they need. This can include staying connected within the community and making time for activities that bring them and their family joy.</p> <p><strong>Looking beyond diagnosis</strong></p> <p>When parents seek out a diagnosis for their child, they want help to support their child’s development. But long waits for assessment and diagnosis can present barriers between Australia’s health, education and disability systems and the help families need. The long waiting lists to receive a diagnostic assessment are at odds with what we know about the importance of early intervention.</p> <p>Recent <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2784066">clinical trials</a> have shown how providing support to babies and parents at the first sign of developmental concern can lead to <a href="https://theconversation.com/therapy-for-babies-showing-early-signs-of-autism-reduces-the-chance-of-clinical-diagnosis-at-age-3-167146">positive developmental outcomes</a> for children.</p> <p>This approach prioritises acting quickly over diagnostic clarity, and makes it more likely children and families receive support during critical times in brain development.</p> <p>As Australia seeks to reform our early childhood development system, the need of families to receive prompt support should be front of mind.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Can we have a twitter thread where we list all of the therapies and supports that parents -can- use to help their autistic kid? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OtherWaysThanABA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OtherWaysThanABA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SayNotoABA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SayNotoABA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AskingAutistics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AskingAutistics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ActaullyAutistic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ActaullyAutistic</a></p> <p>My go-to is ear defenders/earplugs/sunglasses/hoodies/fidget toys/punching bag</p> <p>— AutisticSciencePerson, MSc (@AutSciPerson) <a href="https://twitter.com/AutSciPerson/status/1116527158564986880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2019</a></p></blockquote> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/autism-and-adhd-assessment-waits-are-up-to-2-years-long-what-can-families-do-in-the-meantime-203232" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Caffeine could be used to treat ADHD

<div> <div class="copy"> <p>Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (<a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/attention-deficit-disorder-add-or-adhd#:~:text=Around%201%20in%20every%2020,experience%20the%20symptoms%20into%20adulthood." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ADHD</a>), a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity, is estimated to affect <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/pb-assets/Lancet/gbd/summaries/diseases/adhd.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">84.7 million people worldwide</a>. It is the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/australias-children/contents/health/children-mental-illness" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in Australian children</a>, and of those about 15% continue to live with ADHD <a href="https://psychology.org.au/for-the-public/psychology-topics/adhd-in-adults#:~:text=About%202%20to%203%25%20of%20adults%20are%20diagnosed%20with%20ADHD.&amp;text=While%20ADHD%20begins%20in%20childhood,to%20have%20ADHD%20as%20adults." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">as adults</a>.</p> <p>Experts are continuing to investigate different substances that may be capable of providing new treatment opportunities for people diagnosed with ADHD. Now, a <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/4/739/htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent systematic review</a> of pre-clinical studies in animal models suggests that including caffeine in the therapeutic approach could be used to alleviate some of it’s symptoms.</p> <p>“The therapeutic arsenal for alleviating ADHD is limited, and there is a certain degree of controversy around the use of some types of medications and stimulants, especially during childhood and adolescence,” explains Javier Vázquez, one of the lead authors from the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC), Spain.</p> <p>“That’s why it’s useful to study the efficacy of other substances, such as caffeine.”</p> <p>The review included 13 studies in animal models, published between 2005 and 2020, to assess the association between caffeine and ADHD-dependent variables including attention, locomotor activity, impulsive behaviour, learning, and memory.</p> <p>The researchers found that regular caffeine consumption was linked to increased attention span, improved concentration, learning benefits, and improvements in some types of memory. They also found that controlled treatment with caffeine doesn’t lead to side-effects such as altered blood pressure, or an increase or reduction in body weight.</p> <p>However, the results for its effects on other characteristic symptoms of ADHD, such as hyperactivity and impulsivity, are not clear.</p> <p>“In diagnoses in which the problem is purely attentional, caffeine may be an appropriate therapy, but if there’s a symptomatologic presence of hyperactivity or impulsivity, we must be more cautious,” emphasises Vázquez.</p> <p>“Our results reinforce the hypothesis that the cognitive effects of caffeine found in animal models can be translated and applied in the treatment of ADHD in people, especially at young ages such as adolescence,” the authors conclude.</p> <p>In Australia, it’s estimated that around 4% of adults (between 18 and 44 years of age) live with ADHD. The 2019 <a href="https://scinema.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SCINEMA International Science Film Festival</a> documentary <em>ADHD – Not Just for Kids</em> follows the personal journeys of <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/leonardo-da-vinci-had-adhd-neuroscientist-claims/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adults diagnosed with ADHD</a> late in life, challenging some of the most persistent myths surrounding the disorder.</p> <p>Through interviews with leading experts, the film explores recent research in the field and explains what’s happening in the brains of these individuals, and why stimulants like <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/methylphenidate-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20068297?p=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">methylphenidate</a> – or potentially caffeine – are used to treat their symptoms.</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"><iframe title="How ADHD Affects Adults | ADHD - Not Just for Kids (Full Documentary) | Only Human" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jyUVc0Iteb0?feature=oembed" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> </figure> <p>The film also touches on the potential link between prenatal nicotine exposure through smoking and ADHD in offspring. However, a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.15858" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent review</a> suggests that although smoking during pregnancy is associated with ADHD offspring, it’s unlikely to be the cause of it.</p> <p>It has been unclear whether smoking directly causes ADHD or if this association is due to other confounding factors such as socioeconomic position, education, income, and maternal age.</p> <p>The systematic review and meta-analysis looked at 46 studies that assessed the association between maternal prenatal smoking and offspring diagnosis with the disorder, and found no clear evidence to support a causal relationship. Instead, shared genetics plays a substantial role in the association.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em><!-- Start of tracking content syndication. Please do not remove this section as it allows us to keep track of republished articles --> <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=187494&amp;title=Caffeine+could+be+used+to+treat+ADHD" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /> <!-- End of tracking content syndication --></em></div> <div id="contributors"> <p><em>This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/caffeine-to-treat-adhd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Imma Perfetto.</em></p> </div> </div>

Mind

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Grant and Chezzi Denyer get candid after daughter’s diagnosis

<p><span>Grant and Chezzi Denyer have gotten seriously candid on their new podcast It's All True? when it aired last week.</span><br /><br /><span>One of the topics they spoke about openly was their daughter Sailor’s ADHD diagnosis, revealing that Chezzi realised she too could have the same disorder after further research.</span><br /><br /><span>Home schooling led Grant and Chezzi to the initial realisation that "something wasn't right" with Sailor's learning abilities.</span><br /><br /><span>“I noticed nothing going in, no retention, no ability to repeat anything back to me, and I thought what is going on here?" Grant revealed on the podcast.</span><br /><br /><span>Chezzi admits her immediate response was to blame herself.</span><br /><br /><span>"She kept saying to me 'Mum, I'm really dumb'," Chezzi remembered.</span><br /><br /><span>"It is heartbreaking, you don't want your child to say that. I blamed myself at that point."</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFWVT24lZzt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFWVT24lZzt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by ｃｈｅｚｚｉｄｅｎｙｅｒ (@chezzidenyer)</a> on Sep 19, 2020 at 11:51pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /><span>The couple says that after speaking to a child psychologist they had begun taking Sailor to see, the symptoms soon became clear.</span><br /><br /><span>"She started asking me a couple of questions, like 'Does she find it difficult to make decisions in the morning, does it seem like she daydreams a bit?'</span><br /><br /><span>"The more we started talking, she said, 'Have you ever thought she could potentially have inattentive ADHD?'"</span><br /><br /><span>The parents said Sailor did not fit the stereotypical traits they believed a child with ADHD possessed, so learning of her disorder left them gob smacked.</span><br /><br /><span>"Sailor, No, she's my good child! She's not hyperactive and naughty, that's Scout!" she revealed.</span><br /><br /><span>The couple made the "difficult decision" to trial her on medication, despite initially being a "hard no" to the idea, due to the "stigma".</span><br /><br /><span>The pair says the results were undeniable.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFX92G7FWB7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFX92G7FWB7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by ｃｈｅｚｚｉｄｅｎｙｅｒ (@chezzidenyer)</a> on Sep 20, 2020 at 3:05pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /><span>Chezzi also decided to "investigate" the potential diagnosis as she "believed I had ADHD at school", based on everything the psychologist had said.</span><br /><br /><span>“The more I researched ADHD, the more I think I've got it. I know how much harder it made my life," she realised.</span><br /><br /><span>"I did a questionnaire," Chezzie said, before Grant jumped in: "I've got it here in front of me. I read the questionnaire the first time and I thought 'Oh my god Chezzi you've got it [ADHD]. I couldn't believe it."</span><br /><br /><span>It's a diagnosis both Sailor and mother have taken in their stride.</span><br /><br /><span>Chezzi said: "It's not a disability; it's my superpower, because now I know what it is and I recognise it. Now I know to utilise my strengths."</span></p> <p><em>Image: Instagram @ChezziDenyer</em></p>

Caring

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Healthy lifestyle activities for children with ADHD

<p><em><strong>Fay Karpouzis is a retired health professional and a former researcher in Paediatric ADHD. Most importantly, she is a loving mother of two daughters, one of whom was diagnosed with ADHD 20 years ago. Fay has coupled her personal experiences as a mum, with her clinical and research experience to create a series of evidence-based children’s books, called “But why…?”. </strong></em></p> <p>Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) affects 11 per cent of children in Australia.The core features of AD/HD are the persistence of chronic, developmentally inappropriate patterns of inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity.</p> <p>The scientific literature reveals that two treatments and their combination are effective treatment options for children with AD/HD. They are psychosocial treatments,pharmacological treatmentsand their combination. Despite the scientific evidence, controversy exists over the effectiveness and safety of psychostimulant medications.</p> <p>This controversy has led to increased parental anxiety and as a result, parents have been seeking alternative solutions. Over the years, CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) therapies have become popular for children with developmental and behavioral disorders, such as AD/HD, and are sought more often by these parents than with any other condition.</p> <p>It has become clear over the years that diet, exercise, relaxation and sleep all impact children’s development, behaviour and learning. Let’s take a look at some of the research behind these lifestyle activities.</p> <p><strong>Diet</strong></p> <p>The Western Australia Pregnancy Cohort Study (also known as the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.rainestudy.org.au/" target="_blank">Raine Study</a></strong></span>) was the first study to link the Western-style diet to ADHD. This study has been running for more than 27 years and has followed and monitored 2868 children. According to the results from this study, a child that is raised on a typical Western-style diet, is two times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. The typical Western-style diet described in the study includes: takeaway foods, processed meats, high-fat dairy products, confectionery, French fries, refined grains and soft drinks. Conversely, children raised on a ‘healthy’ diet consisting of high intakes of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes and fish, were not likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. So, what your grandchild eats, matters!</p> <p><strong>Exercise</strong></p> <p>Let’s have a look at the some of the benefits of exercise for children with ADHD. One <a href="http://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(12)00994-8/abstract" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>study</strong></span></a> which was conducted in 2013, looked at the effect of exercise in children with ADHD. The researchers found that children with ADHD improved in processing information and exhibited better control after exercise. They also improved in reading and arithmetic.</p> <p>According to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18781504#https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18781504" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>research</strong></span></a> findings, exercise improves… focus, memory, executive functioning, cognition, cardiovascular circulation, aerobic capacity, balance and coordination. It also enhances phonemic awareness and reduces stress and distraction. You may be surprised to know that <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/regular-exercise-changes-brain-improve-memory-thinking-skills-201404097110" target="_blank">research</a></strong></span> shows that exercise activities also benefit seniors in the same way they benefit children. In case you are wondering, research backed activities that help children with ADHD are… Tai Chi, table tennis, swimming, dancing and yoga. So, why not get active with your grandchild, what have you got to loose?</p> <p><strong>Relaxation</strong></p> <p>Which brings me to the next area of importance, and that is, relaxation. There’s no doubt about it, children are growing up in stressful times and experience anxiety and depression. In particular, children with ADHD have more to worry about as they struggle to keep up in the classroom and to fit in socially. So, I do believe they need to be taught strategies to cope with their stresses, regardless of whether they are real or perceived.</p> <p>A study that was conducted in 2004, investigated whether meditation could be used as a family treatment method for children with ADHD. A six-week program on Sahaja Yoga Meditation was taught to parents and children with ADHD, at the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Sydney, Australia.</p> <p>The results of the study showed improvements in children’s ADHD behaviour, self-esteem and relationships. The children were interviewed and expressed feeling less anxious at home with improved sleeping routines, they were also more able to concentrate at school, and had less conflict at school. Parents reported feeling happier, less stressed and more capable of managing their child’s behaviour.</p> <p>Consider trying some of the relaxation techniques with your grandchild. You can both benefit from… yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation. Be a great role model for your grandchild. Sometimes, grandparents can get children to do things their parents can’t.</p> <p>I’m sure you already know that sleep is important, but did you know that sleep deprivation symptoms and ADHD look very similar? Poor sleep patterns lead to decreases in concentration, attention and creativity, increases in impulsivity, mood swings and stress, and poor social skills.</p> <p>One particular <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23650531" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>research</strong></span></a> project revealed that the relaxation response, which is the opposite of the stress response, can be brought on by… meditation, yoga, yoga breathing and repetitive prayer. The relaxation response is considered to be an effective therapeutic tool that counteracts the adverse effects of stress in disorders including… hypertension, anxiety, insomnia and aging. Not bad, is it? By helping your grandchild with ADHD, you may also reap some benefits for yourself.</p> <p>Speaking of benefits for the grandparents, one published <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/behindtheheadlines/news/2017-01-03-grandparents-who-babysit-tend-to-live-longer/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>study</strong></span></a><strong> </strong>revealed that grandparents who babysit their grandchildren tend to live longer than seniors who do not take care of loved ones or other people. Well, I call that a win-win scenario. I hope you feel that way. I know my girls still have fond memories of my mother looking after them. For the record, they are still creating beautiful memories with my mother.</p> <p>The last area I would like to cover is about the impact of ADHD on learning. Unfortunately for children with ADHD, the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jpepsy/article/32/6/643/1021192/Academic-and-Educational-Outcomes-of-Children-With" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>research</strong></span></a> shows they have poorer educational outcomes. They are more likely to… produce poor grades; have lower scores on reading and math tests; repeat a class; get detention; be expelled; drop out of school early and are less likely to go on to tertiary education.</p> <p>This is a sobering thought for both parents and grandparents. The way to change this trajectory is to intervene early, with a lot of love, patience and perseverance. It is important to instill a love of learning at an early age and it is very important to make learning fun.</p> <p>The points I covered above about healthy diets, exercising and relaxing daily and sleeping well every night, will help set the foundations for learning. There are certain activities that you can incorporate into your grandchildren’s lives that will positively impact on their learning. Learning to read and play music, painting and drawing are activities that help prepare the brain for learning and help improve memory. </p> <p class="NoteLevel1CxSpFirst">According to one <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/files/attachments/4141/the-neuroscience-joyful-education-judy-willis-md.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>expert</strong></span></a>, “When students are engaged and motivated and there is little or no stress”, information flows through to the higher centres of learning in the brain. Isn’t this true for all of us.</p> <p class="NoteLevel1CxSpMiddle">Well, I have definitely given you a lot to digest. My mission is to provide you with plenty of choices that can help you help your grandchild, especially if they have been diagnosed with ADHD. Actually, I’m rather hoping that all of the advice I have given benefits both you and your grandchild. After all, making healthy lifestyle choices are good for all of us.</p> <p><em>My books are filled with simple, practical and fun ways to inspire both you and your grandchild to make healthy lifestyle choices together. The books are best suited for the 4-8 age group.If you want to download a free copy of my first ebook, to read to your grandchild you can go to: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.butwhyseries.com/free-ebook" target="_blank">http://www.butwhyseries.com/free-ebook</a></strong></span></em></p>

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