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New research suggests that disrupted sleep cycles and irregular body clocks may play a bigger role in ADHD than previously thought.
New Research Reveals a Surprising Link Between ADHD and Sleep
Author: Kevin Haynes
A provocative theory about attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is gaining traction among researchers, who now believe it may be tied in part to irregularities in the body’s internal clock.
A recent paper published in Frontiers in Psychiatry argues that, among people with ADHD, sleep and circadian-rhythm disturbances are so common that they may be part of the disorder itself rather than merely a consequence of it.
The researchers, who reviewed dozens of related studies, found that insomnia and other sleep problems affect up to 80 percent of adults with ADHD and up to 82 percent of children with the disorder. But they stop short of arguing that ADHD should be reclassified as a sleep disorder.
Instead, they argue that problems with the body’s internal clock are so common among ADHD patients that they warrant a closer look from researchers and clinicians.
“The accumulated evidence demonstrates that circadian rhythm dysfunction is highly prevalent and clinically meaningful in a substantial proportion of individuals with ADHD,” wrote researchers Brandon Luu of Queen’s University and Nicholas Fabiano of the University of Ottawa.
The authors reviewed research examining a range of biological markers tied to the body’s daily rhythms. Among other findings, they cited evidence that melatonin production and cortisol cycles are often delayed in people with ADHD.
They also argue that clinicians should pay closer attention to sleep and circadian-rhythm issues when evaluating patients with ADHD.
To support that recommendation, the paper points to research suggesting that treatments aimed at improving sleep patterns may also help alleviate ADHD symptoms.
One randomized trial cited in the review involved adults with ADHD and delayed sleep phase syndrome. Researchers found that low-dose melatonin helped participants adopt earlier sleep schedules and was associated with a 14 percent reduction in ADHD symptoms.
The authors also point to research suggesting that bright-light therapy, a common treatment for circadian-rhythm disorders, can improve sleep patterns and reduce ADHD symptoms.
The paper’s publication comes days after a separate study published in JAMA Psychiatry linked ADHD to a significantly higher risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia later in life.
That research, based on health records and genetic data from more than 187,000 adults age 50 and older, found that both diagnosed ADHD and a genetic predisposition to the disorder were associated with cognitive decline.
Together, the research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that ADHD may affect more aspects of health than previously understood.
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