Research papers on ADHD

Here you'll find some research which has been done to help us understand more about ADHD.

Below you'll see a summary of the research pieces, and links which take you to the original source (and away from our website).
Disparate regulatory status of methylphenidate for adults with ADHD across Europe
January 2020

This article looks at 15 European countries (13 from the EU and two from the European Economic Area) to see who have approved at least one form of methylphenidate for adults with ADHD.

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Micronutrients affect gut bacteria associated with ADHD in small but promising study
August 2019

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who took micronutrients had lower levels of a bacteria linked to the psychological disorder, and a healthier range of bugs in their gut overall, new research shows.

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Attention Improves During Physical Exercise in Individuals With ADHD
January 2019

This study examined the effects of physical exercise on attention while participants were engaged in a continuous performance task and found the ADHD group demonstrated faster reaction times during physical exercise (25.4 ms faster) and decreased omission errors (1.5% better).

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Scientists find genetic variants that increase risk of ADHD
November 2018

Scientists have identified 2 particular regions in the genome where changes increase the risk of ADHD. The team says the findings could shed light on the biological mechanisms behind ADHD and could help destigmatise the condition. 

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​Ritalin-type drugs best to treat ADHD in children, shows study in UK 
August 2018

Ritalin and other drugs of the same class are the most effective and safest medications to prescribe for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a major scientific review.

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Association between ADHD and asthma
July 2018

​Several studies have assessed the possible association between ADHD and asthma.
 
A population-based study was conducted that showed asthma was significantly associated with ADHD.

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Children with ADHD sleep both poorly and less
May 2016
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A new study from Aarhus University has now documented that there is some truth to the claim by parents of children with ADHD that their children have more difficulty falling asleep and that they sleep more poorly than other children.
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Multimodal therapy involving high intensity interval training improves fitness, motor skills, social behaviour and quality of life with boys
March 2016

​A ​ German study showed that multimodal therapy including high-intensity interval training (HIIT) outperformed multimodal therapy paired with moderate intensity exercise. The HIIT therapy lead to greater improvements in aspects of physical fitness, motor skills, certain aspects of quality of life, competence, and attention in boys with ADHD.
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Link between ADHD, vision impairment in children
February 2016

A new study sheds light on a link between non-correctable vision problems and ADHD in children. Results from a large survey of 75,000 children suggest an increased risk of ADHD among children with vision problems that are not correctable with glasses or contacts, such as color blindness or lazy eye, relative to other children. This finding suggests that children with vision impairment should be monitored for signs and symptoms of ADHD so that this dual impairment of vision and attention can best be addressed.
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Effect of exercise on concentration of individuals with ADHD
February 2016

Physical activity has been used to prevent and improve ADHD and comorbidities; however, previously its effectiveness has not been quantified.

This study shows that intense exercise can improve the attention of children with ADHD and may help their school performance.  
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Generic vs. individualised approaches to ADHD and Dyslexia 
January 2016

The paper, by University of Auckland’s Dr David Moreau and Associate Professor Karen Waldie, acknowledges the important point that ‘neurodevelopmental disorders cannot be explained by intellectual ability or inadequate learning environment, but instead appear to be differences in brain function’. 

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ADHD may have different effects on brains of boys and girls
October 2015
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ADHD manifests itself differently in the brains of girls than in the brains of boys, new research suggests.  The results may help scientists better understand how ADHD affects boys and girls in unique ways, the researchers said.

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Kids with ADHD must squirm to learn, study says
April 2015
​New research shows that if you want ADHD kids to learn, you have to let them squirm.

​The foot-tapping, leg-swinging and chair-scooting movements of children with ADHD are actually vital to how they remember information and work out complex cognitive tasks, according to this study.
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Inside the ADHD brain: differences between adults who have recovered, and those who have not
June 2014

Brain scans differentiate adults who have recovered from childhood ADHD and those whose difficulties linger, research shows.

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Adult ADHD under-treated despite effective interventions
October 2013

​Up to two-thirds of children with ADHD find ADHD persists into adulthood, yet only a small proportion of adults ever receive a formal diagnosis and treatment, research suggests.

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Behavioural and cardiovascular responses to frustration during simulated driving tasks in young adults
April 2011

This study examined the role of negative emotions on driving performance in relation to ADHD, by impairing young adults scoring high on measures of ADHD with a control group. 

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