New Breakthrough Studies of ADHD Promising

By Rachel Stockton

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association is reporting on a particular connection in the brain that may be responsible for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Images of 55 adults with ADHD and 44 normal adults taken by the Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York were studied and compared by the team. Those who had ADHD had a lower concentration of dopamine markers in their brains.  Dopamine is a mood regulator that assists concentration and motivation.

Researchers believe there is a disruption in the amount of dopamine reaching the brain of those with ADHD.  In addition to facilitating concentration, dopamine is also crucial in that it allows a person to perceive rewards and to be motivated in their behavior.   According to the research team, if there is no perceived reward, task completion will not take place.

Although symptoms of ADHD may vary somewhat, there is a core group of behaviors that are consistent among those who have been diagnosed with the disorder:  inability to focus, difficulty staying on task, becoming easily distracted, and an inability to sit still.

Ritalin and Adderall are the two most common psycho stimulants prescribed to those with ADHD.  They work by increasing dopamine and norephinephren , and thereby motivation, in the brain.

On September 30, a panel will be convening on behalf of the David Lynch Foundation to report on the positive effects of another, non-traditional method of helping students with ADHD:  transcendental meditation.

The timing is no coincidence; September is National ADHD Public Awareness Month.  Students taking part in the study practiced meditation twice during the school day for three months.  After the end of the trial period, the majority reported a 50% reduction in stress level and anxiety.  This is pivotal, as children with ADHD have an impeded ability to deal effectively with stress.

The reason meditation works, according to the panel, is that no concentration is required.  They also emphasized that for children taking medication such as Adderall, symptoms of the disorder are often not reduced enough; meditation seems to be able to fill in the gap for some of them.