ADHD: Impairment in Brain Development & Action - Research Paper

Introduction

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that involves dissimilarities in brain development and action, which results in the inability of an individual to pay attention to their activities. The disorder also leads to difficulty in controlling impulsive actions. In children, it is more common in boys compared to girls. The affected children become hyperactive and unable to concentrate at school and at home. Adults with the disorder have difficulty in time and job management. ADHD is mainly triggered by a chemical imbalance of the brain, poor nutrition, brain injury, and genetic factors. The condition can be treated through prescription of stimulant drugs and therapy to control impulsive behavior and increase the patient's attention.

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Causes of ADHD

Several factors have been found to attribute to ADHD. Genetics may cause ADHD. The condition tends to be passed in families; thus, children may inherit it from their parents. Research shows that siblings and parents of a child with the disorder have ADHD (Bora 700). Brain structure has also been found to cause the condition. Past studies regarding brain scans explain that people with ADHD have smaller structures of the brain, while others are larger compared to those without the condition. There is also a relationship between maternal smoking and drinking. Alcohol has teratogen; therefore, it may lead to alcohol syndrome in the fetus, which leads to hyperactivity in children after birth.

Moreover, maternal stress during pregnancy is linked to ADHD symptoms in offsprings. Low birth weight and premature births are also associated with the condition. The risk of ADHD is more for extreme premature births and very low birth weights (Bora 701). Environmental exposure to toxins such as pesticides and lead, also result in the condition. Exposure leads to the damage of cognitive and neural systems that are associated with ADHD.

Furthermore, brain injury at the front side attributes to the condition. When one's frontal lobe of the brain is injured, they develop a problem in controlling impulses and reactions. Poor nutrition and infections during pregnancy also cause ADHD for children.

Effects of ADHD to the Brain

The normal brain regulates all the physiological actions in a person by self-assigning responsibilities to its various regions. Therefore, it implements functions such as accepting sensory information, initiation, coordination of deliberate and uncontrolled movements, regulating moods of a person, and controlling behavioral factors. Neurotransmitters help the brain to convey provocations across other neurons (Bora 703). ADHD condition leads to a decrease in the levels of the neurotransmitters operating between the prefrontal cortical area and the basal ganglia that includes dopamine. The transmission of stimuli by the transmitted becomes low, leading to decreased attention. The dopamine in the brain also, leading to low emotions.

Additionally, the disorder leads to low glutamate levels in the brain, which leads to the neurotransmitter abnormalities. The condensed glutamate levels lead to the incapacity of neural networking to carry out their normal functions. Moreover, the condition affects the brain as it impacts the functioning of the prefrontal cortex monitoring the emotional responses and judgment (Bora 704). Individuals with the condition, therefore, carry out their tasks without any concentration on the activities. The dysfunction of the cortex also leads to reduced attention, shortened memory, and the inability to avoid the activities that divert concentration.

Furthermore, research shows that children with ADHD have reduced brain volume in frontal and parietal lobes. ADHD leads to a decrease in the mass of the gray matter and an irregular structure of the white matter in the brain (Bora 706). The brain volume also reduces and has a thinned cortical that is responsible for concentration. In children, ADHD affects the brain by delaying brain maturity. Children with the condition have a low volume of gray and white matter in the lobes and reduced cerebellar volume. However, they have the same patterns of brain development as those of kids without the condition. Those with ADHD also have large frontal hippocampi. However, those with a large hippocampus display fewer symptoms of the condition.

Signs and Symptoms of ADHD

Children with the condition may develop inattentiveness where they have a short time of concentration and are easily sidetracked. They also have a short memory and may make insensitive mistakes in the classrooms. They are also unable to stick to activities that require a lot of psychological energy. The children are also distracted by unnecessary activities. Those with ADHD do not follow the instructions they are given due to forgetfulness. The children are also hyperactive and impulsive (Bora 707). Research shows that those with the disorder may do activities that they are not required performing. They are also unable to do their activities while they are quiet. The children also talk excessively and often interrupt others without waiting for their turn.

Adults with the condition may find difficulties in performing their tasks and concentrating on their activities. They also struggle to plan and complete their tasks. Time management for them is also a difficulty. They may, therefore, develop depression and low self-esteem as they strain to keep up with their colleagues. However, the symptoms do not necessarily induce that an individual has ADHD (Bora 710). To find out if the condition causes the symptoms displayed by the individuals, one must talk to a mental health professional so that they can analyze the symptoms.

Diagnosis of ADHD

Diagnosis is carried out in children and teenagers through a clinical assessment with a professional. For a child to be diagnosed with the condition, they must have six or more symptoms of lack of attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The symptoms must also be observed for more than seven months. The signs should also have been witnessed in the individuals before the age of seven and should cause impairments in doing activities in several settings (Jarrett 245). The symptoms to check out include difficulty in maintaining concentration, listening, and following instructions. The children and teenagers may also avoid tasks that require attention and are distracted easily by unnecessary things. In checking hyperactivity and impulsivity, the professional should check out for excess talking and restlessness, among other symptoms.

For adults, they should check out for the signs and symptoms of lack of concentration and hyperactivity. While confirming that the individual has ADHD, the history of the adult's behavior should be determined from childhood (Jarrett 245). They must have recurring symptoms. There should also be an interview with a person who knows the individual well to determine the individual's behavior. A physical exam that includes neurological and psychological analyses should be carried out to determine whether the symptoms are caused by ADHD or not.

Treatment of ADHD

Several medications are prescribed to treat ADHD. They include Methylphenidate, which stimulates the activities in the brain, particularly in the areas that control behavior and concentration of an individual (Caye 398). It is administered to individuals over the age of 5. Lisdexamfetamine is also prescribed when Methylphenidate does not show improvement. However, the drugs may be issued to adults as a first-line medication. Dexamfetamine may also be prescribed and works to stimulate the activities of the brain.

Besides, Atomoxetine is issued to escalate the amount of noradrenaline in the brain. The medication helps in increasing concentration and controlling impulses. Guanfacine is also administered to improve concentration and lessen the individual's blood pressure (Caye 399). Alongside the medication, different therapies are provided to treat the condition. Some of the treatments offered include psychoeducation, where the individuals are encouraged to talk about ADHD and its effects. It helps the individuals to cope with the disorder without having esteem issues. Behavior therapy controls the behavior of an individual by issuing rewards to encourage children to control their behavior.

Furthermore, cognitive behavioral therapy helps individuals change how they think and behave. A child may also be taken through social skills training to train them on how to behave in social settings to avoid behaviors that may hurt others (Caye 406). Other ways to treat the condition include cutting down on some foods and taking supplements. They should, however, check medical advice first before cutting on their diet.

Conclusion

Conclusively, ADHD is a common disorder that affects an individual's ability to concentrate and control impulsive behaviors. The condition is common in children and may progress to when they are adults. The risk factors for ADHD include family history, brain damage, heavy maternal drinking, and smoking. The disorder impacts the brain by reducing the density of the gray and white matter. It also affects the neurotransmitters of the brain. To diagnose the condition, the medical professional assesses the symptoms of the individual and the duration of the symptoms. ADHD can, however, be treated through prescription of stimulant medication and therapy.

Works Cited

Bora, E., and C. Pantelis. "Meta-analysis of social cognition in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): comparison with healthy controls and an autistic spectrum disorder." Psychological medicine 46.4 (2016): 699-716.

Caye, Arthur, et al. "Treatment strategies for ADHD: an evidence-based guide to select the optimal treatment." Molecular Psychiatry 24.3 (2019): 390-408.

Jarrett, Matthew A. "Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and executive functioning in emerging adults." Psychological assessment 28.2 (2016): 245.