Alterations In Brain Dopamine Pathway Appears To Be Associated With Certain Symptoms Of ADHD
Results from brain scans suggest an association between a reduction in the transmission of dopamine markers with symptoms of inattention for individuals with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ), according to a preliminary study in the September 9 issue of JAMA. ADHD is a childhood psychiatric disorder that frequently persists into adulthood, and is estimated to affect 3 percent to 5 percent of the U.S. adult population, which makes it one of the most prevalent of all psychiatric disorders, according to background information in the article. Previous research has indicated that dopamine (a neurotransmitter essential for the normal functioning of the central nervous system) transmission is disrupted in some pathways of the brain in ADHD.
Students With ADHD Benefit From Meditation
A panel of physicians and scientists will report on the benefits of a simple meditation practice for aiding students diagnosed with ADHD during a national medical webinar, which will be hosted by the David Lynch Foundation on Wednesday, September 30, 12 noon (ET). http://www.adhd-tm.org/ The webinar, which comes on the final day of National ADHD Public Awareness Month, will report on published research on the effects of the Transcendental Meditation technique for improving academic achievement and executive brain function while reducing learning disorders, anxiety, depression, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease. Conference panelists Sarina Grosswald, Ed.
Adult ADHD, Risk Factors And Genetics
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders of childhood. Worldwide, 3% of children are affected with the disorder. Key symptoms of ADHD include age-inappropriate hyperactive and impulsive behaviour and/or a reduced ability to focus attention. Clinically, three different ADHD subtypes are classified, a primarily inattentive subtype, a primarily hyperactive/impulsive subtype, and a combined subtype in which patients show deficits in both domains. At the level of the brain, small aberrations in both structure and activity of specific brain regions, as well as the connectivity between brain regions have been observed in children and adults with ADHD (Valera et al.
First-Ever Controlled Pharmacological Study Of ADHD In College Students Launched
In an effort to help one of the most under studied groups of sufferers of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ), researchers at University of Rhode Island and Lehigh University have kicked off the first-ever controlled pharmacological study for treatment of ADHD amongst college students. The study is being conducted by Lisa Weyandt, associate professor of psychology at University of Rhode Island (Kingston, RI) and George DuPaul, professor of school psychology and chair of the department of education and human services at Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA), with funding from Shire Development Inc. Approximately 2 to 4 percent of college-age students report significant symptoms of ADHD such as difficulty with attention, impulse control and restlessness.
First-Ever Drug Effectiveness Study On College Students With ADHD
When they think of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, most people think of squirming kids unable to sit still. ADHD, as it is more generally known, is one of the most common disorders of childhood. But symptoms of ADHD often linger into adulthood. Approximately 2 to 4 percent of college students report significant symptoms of ADHD such as difficulty with attention, impulse control, and restlessness. Although there is a great deal of information about childhood and adult ADHD and treatments, there's scarce information about the effectiveness of medication on college students with ADHD. That is all about to change. Researchers at the University of Rhode Island and Lehigh University are about to launch a study to test the effectiveness of the stimulant medication, Vyvanse ™
Addrenex Pharmaceuticals Files SNDA Submission For Clonicel To Treat ADHD
Addrenex Pharmaceuticals and Sciele Pharma, Inc., a Shionogi company announced that Addrenex has submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Clonicel (modified-release clonidine) to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ). The submission is based on the successful completion of Phase III clinical trials demonstrating statistical significance when Clonicel was used to treat ADHD in children and adolescents. "The sNDA filing for Clonicel is an important milestone for physicians and the millions of patients and their families seeking a non-stimulant alternative for the treatment of ADHD, " said Moise Khayrallah, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Addrenex Pharmaceuticals.
Liquorice Consumption In Pregnancy May Affect Eating Liquorice In Pregnancy May Affect A Child's IQ And Behavior
Expectant mothers who eat excessive quantities of liquorice during pregnancy could adversely affect their child's intelligence and behaviour, a study has shown. A study of eight year old children whose mothers ate large amounts of liquorice when pregnant found they did not perform as well as other youngsters in cognitive tests. They were also more likely to have poor attention spans and show disruptive behaviour such as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). It is thought that a component in liquorice called glycyrrhizin may impair the placenta, allowing stress hormones to cross from the mother to the baby. High levels of such hormones, known as glucocorticoids, are thought to affect fetal brain development and have been linked to behavioural disorders in children.
Diminished Proactive Attention Exoerienced By Action Video Game Players
Video game players are often accused of passively reacting to tasks that are spoon fed to them through graphics and stimuli on the screen. A group of researchers from Iowa State University shows that playing lots of video games has different effects on two types of cognitive activity, proactive and reactive attention. Proactive attention can be thought of as a sort of "gearing up" mechanism. For instance, when players that are familiar with a particular game anticipate an action they need to take, such as getting a key or a pot of gold, in order to get to the next level. Reactive control is described as happening "just in time", for example, when a monster suddenly appears that is about to thwart the player's advantage or ability to get to the next level.
Phthalates, Common Plastics Chemicals, Linked To ADHD Symptoms
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.
New Study On Vyvanse R lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Capsules CII Shows Administration Of Vyvanse Through Two Different Routes
Shire plc (LSE: SHP, Nasdaq: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announced new data about the pharmacokinetics of its Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD ) medication, Vyvanse ® (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) Capsules CII, which showed that Vyvanse provided similar concentrations of its active medication in the blood when administered either intranasally or when administered orally. Specifically, the overall rate and extent of exposure to d-amphetamine, the active medication in Vyvanse, was similar in healthy adults whether they received the drug as a solution through the nose or orally as a capsule. These findings, which were recently presented at a major psychiatric meeting, reflect the ongoing efforts of Shire to further understand the abuse potential of Vyvanse.