Sleep deprivation and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have long been recognized as having a relationship. Around 75 percent of children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also have sleep problems. Researchers have now found the association that works the other way around. Researchers suggest that disruptions to normal circadian rhythms may be one important underlying factor that contributes to ADHD.

Professor Sandra Kooij, founder and chair of the European Network Adult ADHD and associate professor of psychiatry at VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam, presented the proposal at the ECNP Conference in Paris and said, “There is extensive research showing that people with ADHD also tend to exhibit sleep problems. What we are doing here is taking this association to the next logical step: pulling all the work together leads us to say that, based on existing evidence, it looks very much like ADHD and circadian problems are intertwined in most patients. We believe this because the day and night rhythm is disturbed, and the timing of several physical processes is disturbed, not only of sleep, but also of temperature, movement patterns, timing of meals, and so on. If you review the evidence, it looks more and more like ADHD and sleeplessness are 2 sides of the same physiological and mental coin.”

What is ADHD?

The behavioural symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which have a neurological basis, include impulsivity, hyperactivity, mood swings, and inattentiveness. There are multiple disparities in brain volume and function between people with ADHD and those without it, and ADHD is strongly heritable. ADHD symptoms are typically first identified at a young age and may intensify as a child’s environment changes, such as when they enter school. Most ADHD cases are identified in children between the ages of 6 and 12, but because the disorder can last a lifetime, it is also becoming more commonly acknowledged in adults and older persons. Individuals diagnosed with ADHD frequently experience comorbid conditions like anxiety, mood, and sleep issues. ADHD affects two to five percent of children, adults, and senior citizens.

The link between ADHD and sleeplessness

• In 75% of ADHD patients, the physiological sleep phase — where people show the physiological signs associated with sleep, such as changes in the level of the sleep hormone melatonin, and changes in sleep-related movement — is delayed by 1.5 hours.
• Core body temperature changes associated with sleep are also delayed (reflecting melatonin changes)
• Many sleep-related disorders are associated with ADHD, including restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, and the circadian rhythm disturbance, the delayed sleep phase syndrome
• ADHD people often show greater alertness in the evening, which is the opposite of what is found in the general population
• Many sufferers benefit from taking melatonin in the evening or bright light therapy in the morning, which can help reset the circadian rhythm
• Recent work has shown that around 70% of adult ADHD sufferers show an oversensitivity of the eyes to light, leading many to wear sunglasses for long periods during the day — which may reinforce the problems associated with a ‘circadian shift’.
• Chronic late sleep leads to a chronic sleep debt, associated with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. This cascade of negative health consequences may in part be preventable by resetting the sleep rhythm.

Sleeplessness an important factor for ADHD

“We are working to confirm this physical-mental relationship by finding biomarkers, such as Vitamin D levels, blood glucose, cortisol levels, 24-hour blood pressure, heart rate variability, and so on. If the connection is confirmed, it raises the intriguing question: does ADHD cause sleeplessness, or does sleeplessness cause ADHD? If the latter, then we may be able to treat some ADHD by non-pharmacological methods, such as changing light or sleep patterns, and prevent the negative impact of chronic sleep loss on health.”

“We don’t say that all ADHD problems are associated with these circadian patterns, but it looks increasingly likely that this is an important element.”

Commenting, Professor Andreas Reif (University Hospital, Frankfurt, and leader of the EU CoCA project on ADHD), who was not involved in the research, said “A disturbance of the circadian system may indeed be a core mechanism in ADHD, which could also link ADHD to other mental illnesses such as depression or bipolar disorder. But also, beyond these pathophysiological considerations, sleep problems and abnormalities of circadian rhythms are a huge problem for many patients, heavily impacting their social life” He continued “More research into the interconnections between ADHD and the “inner clock” is thus very relevant to improve patients’ lives and to shed light on the disease mechanism of ADHD.”

Story Source:

Materials provided by the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Page citation:

European College of Neuropsychopharmacology. “Is ADHD really a sleep problem?.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 September 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170904093443.htm>.

Help is here:

Toll-Free Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline Kiran (1800-599-0019)

Name of the Organisation: Indian Organization for Rare Diseases

(IORD) is an umbrella organization, representing the interests of all rare disease patients, patient support groups, health policy advocates, and health care providers extending support or working in the field of any of the undermentioned rare disease groups.

Website: https://www.rarediseases.in/

Contact: Email: info@rarediseases.in, indiaord@gmail.com

Telephone: +91-9666438880

Name of the Organisation: Vandrevala Foundation

Vandrevala Foundation is a non-profit that partners with organizations to help communities thrive by providing education and healthcare. Vandrevala Foundation launched a mental health helpline in India in 2009 to offer free psychological counselling and crisis mediation to anyone who is experiencing distress due to depression, trauma, mood disorders, chronic illness, and relationship conflict.

Website:  http://www.vandrevalafoundation.com

Contact: Email: info@vandrevalafoundation.com

Telephone: +91 9999 666 555