Weekly Research Updates for June 8, 2024

00:00 Introduction and Dad Jokes
01:53 Study of fidgeting in ADHD children - does it help with concentration?
04:51 Meta-analysis on medication effects on quality of life in ADHD
07:12 Consumption of sugar before age 2 and risk for later ADHD
11:02 Study of effects of multinutrients on children with ADHD
17:15 Conclusion
Research Discussed in the Video
A Quantitative Analysis of Fidgeting in ADHD and its Relation to Performance and Sustained Attention on a Cognitive Task
HM Son, CA Calub, B Fan, JF Dixon, S Rezaei… - Frontiers in Psychiatry
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1394096
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Effects of Pharmacological Treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder on Quality of Life
A Bellato, NJ Perrott, L Marzulli, V Parlatini, D Coghill… - Journal of the American …, 2024
doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2024.0...
Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages before 2 years of age and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
S Kim, J Shin, HR Cha, EK Ha, JH Kim, MY Han - Annals of nutrition & metabolism
DOI: 10.1159/000539458
Micronutrients for ADHD in youth (MADDY) study: comparison of results from RCT and open label extension
B. Leung et al. (2024). European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 33, 1355-1367.
link.springer.com/article/10....
Problems most concerning to parents of children with ADHD and emotional dysregulation in a randomized controlled trial of multinutrients: MADDY secondary …
G Tost, P Srikanth, A Bruton, IE Hatsu, BMY Leung… - European Child & …, 2024
link.springer.com/article/10....

[@thordoo3047]

Good morning Russell, I want you to know you saved my life. I was ready to kill myself at 30, I had my rope and goodbye letters ready. I didn't want my son being born with a monster of a father who couldn't control his emotions, hold a job, maintain a relationship beyond a few nights, I stole, swindled, and found ways to survive... I don't know how I found your video "ideas for parents"... I started watching it. Within 15 minutes you had changed my life. I cried and cried, and have never felt more validated or understood in my entire life. I watched the entire damn thing in one sitting and sent it to everyone I knew... That day I made an appointment with a wonderful NP and have been medicated for 6.5 years now. I successfully graduated from MT school(I dropped out of high school), got my license, and have been practicing for more than four years at a few of the top spas in the world. YOU saved my life and because of you my son has a father. I didn't know you had your own YT channel or I would have posted this sooner. Thank you for everything, there are thousands of dead men and women alive today because of YOU.💙💙💙

[@s.m.4948]

What a great story - well done!

[@thordoo3047]

@@s.m.4948 Thank you! 😊

[@ThomasToPC]

OK, next let's look at any meta-analyses on what's the best fidget toy😄 Thank you Dr Barkley for your work and contributions!

[@intensementpodcast]

"Active placebo "is the dad joke of the year !!!😂

[@kikitauer]

Hi from Prague! 👋 Can't confirm or deny the checkers joke, just passing by 😉

[@CardinalBlock]

Fidget toys I always misplace, so during work meetings I start wandering. My old boss said that when I started pacing around during meetings, he knew I was paying attention.

[@maryr7593]

Some ppl do knitting or a no brain craft project. At I meeting I thought it was odd but I get now, it just helps them concentrate on the subject matter. I also use this technique when listening to long vids, I go window online shopping...just looking for which stores have what i am looking for...reading descriptions distracts me. So it's just the eyes seeing the types of products i search for...while watching vid. Later I go back and read descriptions.

[@jsonbourne9799]

I love that your boss knew. Kinda the opposite of what people usually think about fidgeting.

[@CardinalBlock]

@@maryr7593 I can usually sit still watching a movie of my preferred genre. But I can’t watch anything when the “adhd-burnout” hits me.

[@gabriellawaldi]

Thank you Dr. B. for this video and for your work!

[@imthinkingthoughts]

Russell - you're a legend. Big Thanks!

[@devinkelly3135]

Hi Doc, I'm a psychologist with ADHD. I love your work, but how ironic is it that I have to restart it 2-3 times every week because I get distracted. 😂

[@maryr7593]

Try keeping your hands busy while watching vid. Some do knitting, putting together crafts, washing dishes, cutting up veggies/meal prep, decluttering (not reading anything...just using eyes to determine what goes or stays...mindless activities..while listening. Others speed up his rate of speech so he talks faster. Others use chunking methods...10-15 minutes at a time, take a small break, chunk another 15 min.

[@publius9350]

I have the same issue, but it's not so much an issue as the way my life is. I tend to be doing something else while watching and I have to come back a few times if interested - and I did not when it was novel!

[@christegtmeyer8200]

Thanks!

[@Alayhoo]

Speaking of parents with ADHD being more likely to give their kids sugary drinks… I’m AuDHD and so is my dad. The first time I had Pepsi was in a bottle he gave me when I was about 18 months old 😂 after that both of my parents tell me they switched me to Diet Pepsi and gave it to me at strategic times to mellow me out. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@gabriellawaldi]

Thanks!🤩

[@Mspunticka]

Im from Prague hahaha, thank you for your work

[@amykarnehm3602]

Dearest Dr Barkley - what is the best way/place to donate to ADHD research? (I understand if this is something you can’t answer for professional/“political” reasons. ) there seems to be a lot of research going on but not entirely clear where to give that will truly make a difference. I Diagnosed about 6 months ago as I turned 55. Looking back, it’s clear I’ve had it but a perfect storm of stressors, exhaustion and menopause threw it into overdrive. Trying desperately to hold into my life. I have the absolute best therapist, so I have some hope, but definitely want to support more progress. Much love for your channel - know that it is lifesaving for many of us.

[@chriswilliamson5898]

Correction to the chapter title at 01:53: The study is about fidgeting in ADHD adults, as Dr. Barkley says in the video, not children.

[@Glorious_Potatoe]

Less than a minute in and I am googling stuff. Did not know that maroon goes so far into the purple/violet colours. and instead of leaving 200 more word explaining why and how etc. I am leaving it at that.

[@ConradMcBad]

Hi Russell - I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on disrupted circadian rhythms and if evidence suggests it might be a causal factor in late adolescent/ Adult ADHD. Sample of one here, but I noticed my symptoms got a lot worse throughout the 10 years I spent doing a 4x4 12-hour rotating night/day shift pattern - just wondering if there's any research you've seen that might corroborate my experience. Kind regards - Conrad.

[@chriscohlmeyer4735]

That micronutrient study missed an important detail: 1) children will one way or another consume the nutrition that they need even if to adults and doctors it may seem too restrictive which leads to 2) the study should have included dietary information to determine if a) the micronutrient pills are redundant or b) do the pills provide a supplement to some deficient dietary micronutrients and c) where there is a percieved deficiency do the micronutrients reduce identifiable ADHD symptoms. I used to hate Sunday afternoons when I had a school paper due. Sit down at a table with pencil and paper, a few scribbled notes and the encyclopedia to look up/check information and no toys to fidget with. Ten versions in my head, noises from outdoors, older brothers, cats, so many other interesting things to read in the encyclopedia, ten new versions with every sentence I managed to write, mom checking on me every 10 to 15 minutes would lead to something I should have been able to do in an hour or less to taking some four hours to finish. If I did manage to conceal something to fidget with I did manage to take less time unless I needed to look up a lot of information in the encyclopedia - so many diversionary things on each page 🤷, it seems like the internet would have reduced that tendency as long as I could spell 😜 or it was close enough to guess what I meant.

[@Millennial_Manc]

I’d love to see you look at the evidence for tDCS treating ADHD. Even the NHS have started clinical trials on them for depression. Could passing an electrical current through the brain from a 9V battery at home really help?

[@hansini3126]

I want to even know about ADD symptoms and difference between ADHD and ADD,i Begg you to please make video on that too. I know me now 🥲 very well just because of you thanks a lot.

[@jsonbourne9799]

I'm not a medical professional but from what I read, ADHD is the new term for ADD. ADHD can be diagnosed as "predominantly inattentive" meaning little or no hyperactivity or restlessness. Some people refer to this presentation as "ADD".

[@BenRichterTU]

Hi Dr. Barkley, if this strikes your interest, I'd love to hear your thoughts (as a comment or video) on the very limited evidence base for the effect of Ketogenic Diet on ADHD. According to a 2023 review (Effects of the Ketogenic Diet on Cognition: A Systematic Review; Chinna-Meyyappan et al, 2023), there have been 6 RCTs with human subjects that measured effect of KD on cognitive domains like working memory, attention, and processing speed. 4/6 found a positive effect and 2 no effect. No human studies have found a detrimental effect on cognition. If effective for ADHD, potential mechanisms of action could involve energy metabolism, oxidative stress, or immune/inflammatory processes. Very limited evidence on Alzheimer's suggests KD could slow cognitive decline. Has been used for over 100 years for epilepsy...

[@Deviliza]

I think you are missing to point out that as parents with ADHD might drink more sugar, then its more likely in the house, exposing the kids to drink more sugar.

[@lindseyhancock6673]

Question is there any research about adhd and nutrition meaning any foods that make the fidgeting or hyperactivity worse? Or better? Not wanting to start anything just honestly curious

[@hipo5718]

Can we pleas se the both doggies? I would be very very happy!

[@maryr7593]

Question unrelated to your video sorry: Is there a way that you know of to reduce 'brain fog'? Characteristics of brain fog includes severe word finding issues; executive function issues (w/o ADHD diagnosis -adult); friends tell me I have hallmark signs of ADD & housemate calls me a chipmunk when I try to do stuff outside...go here, there, starting several diff things and never finishing anything, convos...jumping from topic to another and another..forgetting where I was or what I started talking about; I can set the deadlines for myself, etc...often though in order to get something done...I need to set up an extraneous reason to get it done (ie tackle clutter so I have to set up an appt for someone to do the work that I need done but been delaying it because house is cluttered). Not sure it makes sense. I've been with these brain fog issues for about 8 yrs ever since becoming hypersensitive to chemical scents and natural floral scents. I now understand that everyone with MCAS issues has these same issues. Also long covid seems to be producing similar issues as well as those with ME/CFS. I know brain fog is not in the ADHD domain but the 'part of the fog characteristics involve ADD like characteristics that we hadn't had prior (or maybe a little but we found systems to deal with them). (Tried to get diagnosed, fyi, but because I exhibited no symptoms as a child, they said nope.) So just was wondering if you have come across anything in the research to help us reduce the "fog". There are times I have had to do the same project 3 times because I got ahead of myself in the steps or I forgot a step and ended up doing it over and over...feeling like I part of ground day movie. Besides the chemical triggers and there being triggers around every corner (most workplaces will not set up fragrance free workplaces, use fragrance free products, etc) but also the brain fog issues help to make one unreliable because sick from triggers or you can't remember the rules or whatever....or whatever I learned two days ago..good luck if I can remember it. Is there anything that can us?

[@windstorminator]

Lmao, solid dad joke

[@SupernovaFinance]

Sir, you are very articulate. How do I improve my vocabulary? Which books would you recommend? This need not be particularly related to ADHD.

[@ubertrashcat]

1) read and 2) write.

[@kathrynturnbull990]

@@ubertrashcat read books at your library. Tell a librarian you want to increase your vocabulary if you are not sure which books to choose. The librarian can help you find books that will challenge you rather than overwhelm you. Read as much as you can.

[@jitendrakurundwade6748]

Is there is any research going on how to eliminate gene in next generation by marriage with specific person of specific executive function. Or there is any Deta regarding the same. Is there is any research that shows when and how will ADHD is eliminate from family history.

[@shinpad]

i need bros skincare routine

[@user-fu4gq2wp1k]

ADHD with Anxiety and mild Depression, For adult, as a student and mother What is your recommendation for the best medication please

[@themobbit9061]

Do you think that over say a decade optimal nutrition could decrease problematic gene expression, or can that never happen? Not that they’d ever be able to find enough people willing to stick with that regime 🥴

[@movement2contact]

Anyone outside of Americas know any ADD treatments or meds that WORK...? It's getting worse with age for me, I'm bordering not being able to do my job properly anymore... 😓💀

[@jobrown04]

I've heard therapy like CBT can massively help

[@yarnpower]

Meditating helps me.

[@megzin00]

In previous Dr. Barkley vids, he says non stimulants work best for ADD. The hard part is finding the right one or combination of meds that work best for your individual brain and lifestyle. DBT and exercise have been the biggest impact for my ADD. Also considering meds for the first time at 40 y/o. Best of luck

[@Millennial_Manc]

All of them work for some people but none of them work for all people. For some people, none of them work or the benefits are short lived. If you’ve exhausted amphetamine, methylphenidate and atomoxetine, you could consider non-stimulants such as bupropion, guanfacine or clonidine. Sleep is important too - melatonin may be an option for long term use instead of benzos or ‘z’ drugs.

[@greatestguru9635]

Second

[@hereallyfast]

First!