Studies have found that ADHD is associated with weaker function and structure of prefrontal cortex (PFC) circuits, especially in the right hemisphere. The prefrontal association cortex plays a crucial role in regulating attention, behavior, and emotion, with the right hemisphere specialized for behavioral inhibition.
The ADHD brain is smaller than the non-ADHD brain and has fewer connections between different brain regions. Their brains do not have the neural organization to self-regulate and to stop automatic responses.
Frontal lobe lesions in adult humans often leads to hyperactivity/hyperreactivity. In childhood, however, we are likely looking at ADHD as a problem of the trajectory of normal maturation of the frontal lobes with effects on the direct, indirect and/or hyperdirect pathways.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can cause attention difficulties, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Research suggests that imbalances of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, and structural changes in the brain may play a role in the development of this condition.
Conclusions: ASD and ADHD are functional alterations of the cerebral cortex, which present structural anomalies in the arrangement of neurons, in the pattern of connections of cortical columns and in the structure of dendritic spines. These alterations affect mainly the prefrontal cortex and its connections.
Frontal cortex: This region regulates your behavior, emotions, and attention. Limbic regions: The limbic system influences your emotions and motivation. ADHD-related changes to this area of the brain can contribute to hyperactivity, inattention, and poorer decision-making.
ADHD is associated with abnormally low levels of the neurotransmitters transmitting between the prefrontal cortical area and the basal ganglia i.e., dopamine and noradrenaline. Dopamine is closely associated with reward centers in the brain, and also interacts with other potent neurotransmitters to regulate mood.
You can inherit genes that boost risk for ADHD from your mother, from your father or from both parents. In a recent Norwegian study, inherited risk was somewhat higher when a child's mother had ADHD compared to their father, but researchers weren't certain why that would be.
Due to this lack of dopamine, people with ADHD are "chemically wired" to seek more, says John Ratey, M.D., professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "Eating carbohydrates triggers a rush of dopamine in the brain," he says. "It's the drive for the feeling of satiety."
Genetics. ADHD tends to run in families and, in most cases, it's thought the genes you inherit from your parents are a significant factor in developing the condition. Research shows that parents and siblings of someone with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves.
Causes of ADHD
Recent studies link genetic factors with ADHD. In addition to genetics, scientists are studying other possible causes and risk factors including: Brain injury. Exposure to environmental risks (e.g., lead) during pregnancy or at a young age.
The correlation between TBI and ADHD doesn't prove that head trauma causes ADHD. Existing ADHD symptoms can worsen after head trauma. Most injuries do not cause ADHD, and most cases of ADHD have nothing to do with known head trauma. However, the two conditions share many symptoms.
Brain MRI is a new and experimental tool in the world of ADHD research. Though brain scans cannot yet reliably diagnose ADHD, some scientists are using them to identify environmental and prenatal factors that affect symptoms, and to better understand how stimulant medications trigger symptom control vs. side effects.
No matter what age, gender, or race you are, ADHD feels different for everyone. For a person with ADHD, it can be a constant struggle to organize everything: from the thoughts inside my head or the never-ending list of tasks to do to sorting my stuff, often leading to trouble locating misplaced things.
Brain Structure
The largest review ever of ADHD patient brain scans was carried out at Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre and published in 2018. Parts of the ADHD brain mature at a slower pace (approximately one to three years) and never reach the maturity of a person who does not have ADHD.
In general, avoid food with simple carbs, especially sugar, corn sugar, and high fructose corn sugar, which is often used as an additive in processed food. Avoid sugary sodas! Avoid foods with artificial ingredients and artificial dyes. Some have been found to worsen ADHD symptoms.
Some of the common foods that can cause ADHD reactions include milk, chocolate, soy, wheat, eggs, beans, corn, tomatoes, grapes, and oranges.
Stimulant medications that treat ADHD can prevent the reuptake of dopamine, increasing brain levels of the chemical. Lifestyle changes can also help, especially in conjunction with standard ADHD treatments. Exercise, a healthy diet, and therapy all offer potential benefits.
Similar to the hyperactive symptoms, impulsive symptoms are typically seen by the time a child is four years old and increase during the next three to four years to peak in severity when the child is seven to eight years of age.
The impact of ADHD on parenting
Parents with ADHD may feel overwhelmed and stressed, which can impact their mental health and well-being. They may also struggle to provide a stable and consistent home environment for their children, which can impact their emotional and social development.
Yes, ADHD is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504). There are several types of disabilities, including but not limited to: learning disability. cognitive disability.
Diagnose and treat coexisting conditions.
Identifying and managing sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and other sleep disorders may lessen some of the symptoms of ADHD, says Michael L. Goldstein, MD, FAAN, former chair of the section of pediatric neurology for the American Academy of Neurology.
A chronic deficit of serotonin (5-HT) at the synapse may trigger symptoms of ADHD.
Executive functions have other roles which affect how someone thinks. In people with ADHD, these executive dysfunctions impact thinking in numerous ways. People with ADHD don't really think faster than people without it, but it can sometimes seem like they do. People with ADHD do think differently though, in a sense.