VOLUME 9, NO.1                                                                 JANUARY 22, 2004

 

NJ ADD/ADHD ADULT NEWSLETTER

ADD ADULT SELF HELP SUPPORT GROUP

FOR ADD/ADHD ADULTS

AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

 

MEETING: THE NEXT MEETING OF THE ADD ADULT SELF HELP SUPPORT GROUP WILL BE ON JANUARY 22, 2004 AT 7:30 PM AT MONMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER, ROOM 214 STANLEY, LONG BRANCH, NJ.  GO TO THE RECEPTION DESK IN THE MAIN LOBBY AND GET DIRECTIONS.  THE TOPIC WILL BE:  ADHD NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS THAT WORK!!!

 

MEETING: The Tenth Annual Adult AD/HD Conference has been scheduled for May 13-16th, 2004 at the Sheraton West Port-Lakeside Chalet, St.Louis, Missouri. For more information go to the ADDA website at www.add.org .  It has always been a great conference and experience.  Some of our famous ADD writers present workshops or talks, and you can get to interact with them…even have lunches with them.

 

RESEARCH: In a research study by Stein, MA et al. A dose-response study of OROS methylphenidate in children with ADHD. Pediatrics, 2003, 11(112): 404-413, it was found that with three doses of Concerta (18mg, 36mg, and 54mg) there was increasingly effective results for one type of ADHD, hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive combined type.   This dose-response pattern was also observed for severe sleep disorders associated with ADHD.  With the predominantly inattentive ADHD group, there was no evidence of improvement with increasing the amount of medication. 

COMMENT: These findings are consistent with other research and my clinical experience that ADDers of the predominantly inattentive type do better with lower doses of stimulant medications, in this case the Ritalin type stimulant.  And, the ADHD hyperactive and combined types can usually increase stimulant medications when they get little response at low doses.

 

RESEARCH: A ground breaking anatomical study of the brain of ADHD children has been completed: Elizabeth Sowell et al., Cortical abnormalities in children and adolescents with ADHD, Lancet, 2003, 362(9397): 1699-1707.  Briefly, they found reductions in size in some specific brain areas, and increases in size of other areas of the ADHD brains.  Specifically there was reduction in size of the cortical layers bilaterally in inferior dorsal prefrontal and anterior temporal areas.  Whereas, there were increases in size of the dorsal frontal lobes and increased grey matter density (more cells) in the posterior temporal and inferior parietal cortices.  Total white matter (cell sheaths and fibers) was reduced in the ADHD group.  No ADHD subgroup or gender differences were found.  Unfortunately, fifteen of the 27 ADHD group were taking medications.

COMMENTS: Although this study has clearly advanced our knowledge about ADHD differences and given credence to our assertions that we have different brains; and, that the executive functions that we suffer have an anatomical basis; there remain many exciting mysteries.  Myelinization of fibers may be significantly reduced in the ADHD brain.  The developmental role of essential fatty acids in the developing fetal and childhood brain, is a new frontier needing exploration.  These fatty acids make up the myelin sheaths of nerves.

                                    PEACE!!!      Bob

 

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