Ongoing research will continue to try to unravel the remaining mysteries surrounding ADHD and its causes. Scientists hope to improve treatment methods and someday even find a cure for the disorder. The following are some specific goals of future research.
At the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), researchers hope to identify a gene that may be involved in transmitting ADHD in a small number of families with a genetic thyroid disorder.
Scientists hope to discover why there is less activity in some areas of the brain by comparing glucose usage and activity levels in mild and severe cases of ADHD.
Researchers hope to answer questions as to why some medications used to treat ADHD work better than others, and if the more effective medications increase activity in certain parts of the brain.
Research on how the brain normally develops in the fetus offers some clues about what may disrupt the process. By studying brain development in animals and humans, scientists are gaining a better understanding of how the brain works when the nerve cells are connected correctly and incorrectly. Scientists at NIMH and other research institutions will continue to track clues to determine what might prevent nerve cells from forming the proper connections.
Researchers will continue to investigate a suspected link between ADHD and a mother's use of cigarettes, alcohol, or other drugs during pregnancy. The use of these substances may be dangerous to the fetus's developing brain. It appears that alcohol and the nicotine in cigarettes may distort developing nerve cells. For example, heavy alcohol use during pregnancy has been linked to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), a condition that can lead to low birth weight, intellectual impairment, and certain physical defects. Many children born with FAS show much the same hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity as children with ADHD.
Drugs such as cocaine, including the smokable form known as crack, seem to affect the normal development of brain receptors. These brain cell parts help to transmit incoming signals from our skin, eyes and ears, and help control our responses to the environment.Current research suggests that drug abuse may harm these receptors and some scientists believe that such damage may lead to ADHD.
Scientists will continue to explore a possible link between ADHD and toxins in the environment that are thought to disrupt brain development or brain processes. Lead is one such possible toxin. It is found in dust, soil, and flaking paint in areas where leaded gasoline and paint were once used. It is also present in some water pipes. Some animal studies suggest that children exposed to lead may develop symptoms associated with ADHD, but only a few cases have actually been found.