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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
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ADHD research

Reading time: 2 min
  • Causes of the disorder: How the context, life events and social or biological circumstances provoke maladaptive behavioural responses from very early ages is studied. Changes in gene expression and the neuroendocrine system can also lead to health problems. Other studies highlight how genetic and environmental risk factors are intimately interconnected with each other.
  •  Neuroimaging: How neuronal structures and connections are affected and how they explain the manifestations and evolution of the disorder are seen. Another line of research is into the neuropsychological functions affected in ADHD and how they affect the prognosis of the disorder.  For example, there is a study whose aim is to compile a large database of variables related to ADHD, to study its progression and its neurocognitive and genetic mechanisms.
  • Neuropsychological tests: There are different studies on working memory, especially in the visuospatial area and the regulation of the monitoring system. The role of the reward system as a modulator of executive functions is also investigated.  
  • Comorbid disorders in ADHD: the association of ADHD with other disorders, such as ASD, eating disorders and obesity, tics and Tourette Syndrome are studied. At the same time, the association with altered sleep patterns is studied. The association with a low rate of ferritin in the blood has been linked to restless leg syndrome and inattention.  
  • Studies on the course of the disorder and the impact on life: Different studies highlight the strong continuity of ADHD symptoms from childhood to adolescence, which occurs in more than 87% of patients. Half of them experience a deterioration in global functioning. Other studies highlight the higher mortality rate in subjects with ADHD throughout life, especially when it is diagnosed in adulthood.  
  • Therapeutic approaches to the disorder: At present, there are fewer clinical trials of different drugs, as fewer new pharmacological entities have been discovered. However, studies on psychological intervention
Read more Living with ADHD
Joint project with . This link opens in a new tab.

Substantiated information by:

Marta Garcia Giral
Montse Vila
Rosa Nicolau

Published: 18 February 2022
Updated: 18 February 2022

The donations that can be done through this webpage are exclusively for the benefit of Hospital Clínic of Barcelona through Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica and not for BBVA Foundation, entity that collaborates with the project of PortalClínic.

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