A new study provides insight into possible causes of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and reasons why the condition is often linked with drug abuse and obesity. A study at the Brookhaven National Laboratory found that people with ADHD had low levels of certain proteins that perform important functions in the part of the brain that controls motivation and rewards.
Researchers detected these deficiencies by using PET (positron emission tomography) scans to study differences between the brains of individuals with ADHD and those without the condition. Their findings may explain why individuals with ADHD would be prone to drug abuse and obesity; they may be using food and drugs to compensate for what is lacking in their brain's reward system. The results of the study could also debunk the theory that ADHD in children stems from poor parenting. The study also provides clues for educators to help children with ADHD perform better in school and encounter fewer behavioral problems. Teachers could help students by making lessons more interesting and rewarding for the children to keep them motivated and make them less likely to seek negative or destructive ways of compensating for their brains' faulty reward systems.The study's findings may go a long way in helping parents, educators and those with ADHD, themselves, understand and successfully treat the condition.
