Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder increases and decreases over the course of life, researchers said – ScienceDaily

“It is important for people diagnosed with ADHD to understand that it is normal to have times in your life where things may be more unmanageable and others when things feel more under control,” said Principal Investigator Margaret Sibley, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Researcher at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute.

Study authors from 16 institutions in the United States, Canada and Brazil said decades of research characterize ADHD as a neurobiological disorder typically first detected in childhood that persists into adulthood. in about 50% of cases. But this study found that only 10% of children pass it completely.

“Although intermittent periods of remission can be expected in most cases, 90% of children with ADHD in the multimodal ADHD treatment study continued to experience residual symptoms into adulthood,” he said. they wrote.

ADHD is characterized by two main groups of symptoms, according to the researchers. Symptoms of inattention resemble disorganization, forgetfulness, and difficulty staying focused on the task. Then there are also the hyperactive and impulsive symptoms. In children, these symptoms seem to have a lot of energy, such as running and climbing on objects. In adults, it manifests itself more as verbal impulsivity, difficulty making decisions, and a lack of thinking before acting. The disorder affects people differently and looks different depending on what phase of life the person is in.

Some people with ADHD also report a unique ability to hyper-focus. Olympians Michael Phelps and Simone Biles have been open about their ADHD diagnosis.

Although many people can experience symptoms similar to ADHD, the disorder is estimated to affect around 5-10% of the population, Sibley said.

16 years of research

This study followed a group of 558 children with ADHD for 16 years, ranging from 8 to 25 years old. The cohort underwent eight assessments every two years to determine if they had symptoms of ADHD. The researchers also asked family members and teachers about their symptoms.

Sibley said the belief that 50% of children get past ADHD was first put forward in the mid-1990s. Most studies, she said, have reconnected with children as one. only once in adulthood. So the researchers couldn’t see that the ADHD they thought was gone is actually coming back.

VSop with ADHD

Researchers have yet to find out what causes ADHD. Sibley said it could be due to stress, a bad environment, and a healthy lifestyle that includes good sleep, a healthy diet, and regular physical activity. Plus, if a person doesn’t take the time to manage the symptoms and really understand what works best for them, then the symptoms are likely to get more out of hand, she said.

Medication and therapy are the two main treatments for ADHD. But, Sibley said, people can also develop their own healthy coping skills.

The researchers found that most people who technically no longer meet the criteria for ADHD in adulthood still have traces of ADHD, but they are doing well on their own.

“The key is to find a job or a passion in life that ADHD doesn’t interfere with,” Sibley said. “You’re going to see a lot of creative people having ADHD because they are able to be successful in their creative endeavors despite having ADHD, whereas people who might be forced to do very detailed work on a computer all day – it could be a very difficult combination for someone with ADHD. “

Sibley said it’s time to seek professional help when symptoms are causing a problem in your life. This includes not giving your best, having problems with other people, difficulty getting along, difficulty maintaining healthy and long-term relationships with loved ones and friends, and l ‘inability to complete basic daily chores – whether that is parenting, staying on top of your finances, or just keeping a household organized.