Latest news with #SamueleCortese
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Insomnia could be reason behind reduced quality of life among people with ADHDL: Study
New Delhi: Insomnia, or sleep disturbances, arising out of ADHD's impulsivity could be the reason why adults with ADHD symptoms experience a reduced quality of life, according to a new study. Usually diagnosed during childhood and teenage, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is marked with restlessness, hyperactivity, and short attention spans. It is the neuro-developmental disorder linked with a delayed maturing of prefrontal cortex of the brain, which is crucial for attention and focus. Researchers, led by those from the University of Southampton, UK, and the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, found that ADHD symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity in adults were associated with more severe insomnia, a lower sleep quality and preference for going to bed and waking up late. The study, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Mental Health, looked at data from the Netherlands Sleep Registry, an online survey of more than ten thousand adult participants. Responses from 1,364 middle-aged and older adult participants on questions about ADHD traits, sleep disturbances, circadian factors, depression and quality of life were analysed. "We know that sleep disruption can impact neurobehavioural and cognitive systems, including attention and emotional regulation. At the same time, sleep disruption may arise from ADHD-related impulsivity and hyperactivity, suggesting a reinforcing cycle between sleep disorders and ADHD," senior author Sarah L Chellappa, associate professor of psychology at the University of Southampton, said. People with ADHD are diagnosed with sleep disorder about eight times more than the general population, which can show up as a delayed onset of sleep, moving more while asleep, daytime sleepiness or a shorter night-time sleep, the authors said. "We show that adult ADHD traits and insomnia severity were significant predictors of lower (quality of life) and that insomnia severity mediated this association," they wrote. Differences in cognition or thought processes among people with ADHD, along with those in sleep and body clock-related genes in ADHD could be potential mechanisms, the team said. "Adults with ADHD traits may be more likely to have low sleep quality, insomnia complaints, and low mood levels, all of which lead to reduced life satisfaction," co-author Samuele Cortese from the University of Southampton said. "There needs to be more research to understand this complex interplay. By improving our understanding, we could uncover treatment options that improve the quality of life of people with ADHD," Cortese said. PTI
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
ADHD medications 'generally safe' for heart health, Southampton study finds
A study led by the University of Southampton has found that ADHD medications have a small effect on blood pressure and heart rate. The research, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, looked at the cardiovascular effects of ADHD medications based on randomised controlled trials. There have been concerns about the side effects of ADHD medications, but the new findings suggest that the benefits of taking these medications outweigh the risks. Professor Samuele Cortese, senior lead author of the study, said: "When it comes to taking any medication, risks and benefits should always be assessed together. "We found an overall small increase in blood pressure and pulse for the majority of children taking ADHD medications. "Other studies show clear benefits in terms of reductions in mortality risk and improvement in academic functions, as well as a small increased risk of hypertension, but not other cardiovascular diseases. "Overall, the risk-benefit ratio is reassuring for people taking ADHD medications." The study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), analysed data from 102 randomised controlled trials, including a total of 22,702 participants with ADHD. It is estimated that ADHD affects around 4 per cent of children in the UK, with around 45 per cent of these treated with medication. The researchers found that all ADHD medications were generally associated with overall small effects on blood pressure, heart rate, and ECG parameters. No significant differences were found between stimulants (including methylphenidate and amphetamine) and non-stimulants (atomoxetine and viloxazine) with regard to their effects on blood pressure and heart rate. Dr Luis Farhat said: "Our findings should inform future clinical guidelines, stressing the need to systematically monitor blood pressure and heart rate, both for stimulants and non-stimulants. "This should be particularly relevant for practitioners who might assume that only stimulants have a negative effect on the cardiovascular system." The researchers say that those with existing heart conditions should discuss the side effects of ADHD medications with a specialist cardiologist before starting treatment. The research team will now look to see if some groups might be more vulnerable to cardiovascular side effects than others.
The Guardian
06-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Benefits of ADHD medication outweigh health risks, study finds
The benefits of taking drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder outweigh the impact of increases in blood pressure and heart rate, according to a new study. An international team of researchers led by scientists from the University of Southampton found the majority of children taking ADHD medication experienced small increases in blood pressure and pulse rates, but that the drugs had 'overall small effects'. They said the study's findings highlighted the need for 'careful monitoring'. Prof Samuele Cortese, the senior lead author of the study, from the University of Southampton, said the risks and benefits of taking any medication had to be assessed together, but for ADHD drugs the risk-benefit ratio was 'reassuring'. 'We found an overall small increase in blood pressure and pulse for the majority of children taking ADHD medications,' he said. 'Other studies show clear benefits in terms of reductions in mortality risk and improvement in academic functions, as well as a small increased risk of hypertension, but not other cardiovascular diseases. Overall, the risk-benefit ratio is reassuring for people taking ADHD medications.' About 3 to 4% of adults and 5% of children in the UK are believed to have ADHD, a neurodevelopmental disorder with symptoms including impulsiveness, disorganisation and difficulty focusing, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice). Doctors can prescribe stimulants, such as methylphenidate, of which the best-known brand is Ritalin. Other stimulant medications used to treat ADHD include lisdexamfetamine and dexamfetamine. Non-stimulant drugs include atomoxetine, an sNRI (selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor), and guanfacine. The study of children, adolescents and adults states: 'There is uncertainty regarding whether medications that are used for the treatment of ADHD may lead to cardiovascular diseases, and concerns remain around their cardiovascular safety.' It found all ADHD medications were associated with small increases of blood pressure and heart rate, except guanfacine, which led to decreased blood pressure and heart rate. There were no significant differences regarding the impact on blood pressure and heart rate between stimulants (including methylphenidate and amphetamine) and non-stimulants (atomoxetine and viloxazine). The researchers advised people with existing heart conditions to discuss the side effects of ADHD medications with a specialist cardiologist before starting treatment. Dr Ulrich Müller-Sedgwick, a consultant psychiatrist and expert on ADHD, said most clinicians prescribing ADHD medication understood the cardiovascular risks and followed Nice guidelines for monitoring blood pressure, pulse and weight. 'We need more detailed guidelines for scenarios when ADHD medication needs to be adjusted or stopped,' he said. Last year, a thinktank warned that the NHS was experiencing an 'avalanche of need' over autism and ADHD, and said the system in place to cope with surging demand for assessments and treatments was 'obsolete'. The number of prescriptions issued in England for ADHD medication has risen by 18% year on year since the pandemic, with the biggest rise in London. Dr Tony Lord, a former chief executive of the ADHD Foundation, said the long-term benefits of ADHD medication were well established, and included a reduced risk of anxiety and depression, eating disorders, harm from smoking, improved educational outcomes and economic independence. 'Sadly ignorance about ADHD medications persists – a throwback to the 80s and 90s when ADHD medications were mistakenly viewed as a morality pill that made naughty, fidgety disruptive children behave – which of course it is not,' he said. 'It is simply a cognitive enhancer that improves information processing, inhibits distractions, improves focus, planning and prioritising, self monitoring and reduces impulsivity of thought and action.'
