Researchers from the University of Surrey and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have made a breakthrough in ADHD treatment for kids.
Using a combination of brain stimulation and special training, they have seen positive results in children with ADHD.
How The Study Worked
The study involved 23 children, aged six to twelve, who had ADHD but were not on medication.
They underwent a brain treatment where a gentle electric current was applied to their brains using two electrodes, while they also had cognitive training.
The findings were impressive:
After two weeks, 55% of the kids showed major improvements in their ADHD symptoms, based on what their parents said.
For comparison, only 17% of children in a control group, who got fake brain stimulation, showed improvements.
Even three weeks after the treatment ended, 64% of the children still showed benefits, compared to 33% in the control group.
What The Experts Are Saying
Professor Roi Cohen Kadosh, who co-led the study, believes this treatment has the potential to really help kids with ADHD and their families.
The technique used is called transcranial direct current stimulation (tRNS). It’s considered safe with very few side effects.
He also mentioned that they’re gearing up for a bigger study. If that also shows good results, the treatment could get approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration as an ADHD medical device.
Dr. Mor Nahum and Professor Itai Berger, who were also leaders of the study, are optimistic.
They hope that more studies will confirm these findings, offering a new, effective, and safe treatment option for ADHD and perhaps other disorders too.
Why This Is Important
ADHD is a common condition that affects how people pay attention and act. About 5.2% of kids around the world have it, often finding it hard to focus, remember things, or control their actions.
Currently, many children with ADHD take medicine to help with their symptoms. But sometimes, these medications can cause side effects like headaches or loss of appetite.
So, having a new way to treat ADHD without medicine could be a game-changer.
As Ornella Dakwar-Kawar from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem pointed out, there’s a big need for new ADHD treatments that don’t involve drugs. This study is a hopeful step in that direction.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about 6 foods you can eat to improve mental health, and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and results showing Omega-3 fats may help reduce depression.
The study was published in Translational Psychiatry.
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