Exposure to Lead and Tobacco Smoke Raises Risk of ADHD

Children exposed to tobacco smoke prenatally or exposed to lead during childhood are at a particularly high risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to new research from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

The study estimates that up to 35 percent of ADHD cases in children between the ages of 8 and 15 could be reduced by eliminating both of these environmental exposures. This could translate to 800,000 children.

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ADHD and Depression May Predict Internet Addiction in Adolescents

Adolescents with psychiatric symptoms such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), social phobia, hostility, and depression may be more likely to develop an Internet addiction, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Addiction to the Internet can negatively impact school performance, family relationships, and adolescents’ emotional states.

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ADHD Patients Found to Have Chemical Imbalance

New research shows the first definitive evidence that there is a chemical imbalance in the brains of those suffering from attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The study, conducted by the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York State, has found that ADHD sufferers have deficiencies in the way the brain deals with dopamine, an amino acid involved in regulation of movement, thought, and behavior.

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ADHD and Ritalin: The Problem of Unnecessary Diagnosis

By Colin Gilbert

In 2005, the Center for Disease Control released a report stating that 4.4 million children aged 4 to 17 years had been diagnosed with ADHD. Of those cases, 2.5 million (56 percent) were taking medication for the disorder.

With roughly 10 percent of children in the United States estimated to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), there is growing concern about the label’s credibility and related prevalence of kids being prescribed Ritalin. Due to the debatable criteria for diagnosing the disorder, many are skeptical of the label’s prevalence in society. Naturally, skeptics are also troubled by the high number of children being prescribed Ritalin for ADHD.

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