Latest news with #neurodevelopmental
Medical News Today
09-06-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
Autism: What to know about increasing diagnoses
A family medicine physician helps Medical News Today fact-check recent claims about the prevalence of autism and its risk factors. Image credit: Jennifer Bogle/Stocksy. Recently, there has been increasing awareness about autism diagnoses and their complexity. At the same time, the United States federal health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made several debated claims about autism prevalence. He has claimed that autism cases are on the rise, and that autism has become 'an epidemic'. He also claimed that environmental toxins are to blame for autism. A board certified family medicine physician helps Medical News Today fact-check these claims. Posts on social media platforms have recently boosted awareness and acceptance of autism, as users report their own experiences of receiving a diagnosis for, and living with this neurodevelopmental condition. Some of the buzz around this topic, however, has also fed discussions around an apparent rise in autism diagnoses in the United States. U.S. Federal Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has recently made a series of claims regarding this apparent rise. These claims seem to suggest that autism has become a public health emergency in the U.S. What exactly did the federal health secretary claim, and how do those claims stack up against existing scientific evidence? Medical News Today set out to fact-check them with the help of one of our trusted experts, David Cutler, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. According to the new CDC report, one out of every 36 children in the U.S. has a diagnosis of autism, up from an estimated one in 44 children in 2021. However, 'the apparent rise in autism diagnoses in the U.S. is primarily due to improved awareness, expanded diagnostic criteria, and enhanced screening practices, rather than a true increase in prevalence,' Cutler told MNT . The family medicine physician offered a breakdown of the key factors that are most likely contributing to the observed rise in autism diagnoses. 'This change has led to more individuals, particularly those with milder symptoms, receiving an autism diagnosis,' Cutler pointed out. Other factors have also contributed to an increase in autism diagnoses over the years, including: improved screening and earlier diagnosis increased awareness and advocacy diagnostic substitution. According to him, 'this proactive approach has resulted in earlier identification of children with autism, including those with less pronounced symptoms, thereby increasing the number of diagnoses.' In short, autistic individuals with lower support needs who would not, historically, have been considered for an autism diagnosis, are now recognized thanks to improved screening for symptoms. 'Greater awareness among parents, educators, and healthcare providers has led to more children being evaluated and diagnosed,' the expert also told us. 'This is particularly evident in historically underdiagnosed groups, such as females and racial minorities, who are now more likely to be identified and receive appropriate services,' he added. In other words, historically marginalised groups and individuals assigned female at birth, who were previously less likely to be considered for an autism diagnosis, now encounter fewer obstacles in accessing neurodevelopmental assessments. 'In the past, children with milder developmental issues might have been diagnosed with intellectual disabilities or learning disorders,' explained Cutler. 'As understanding of autism has evolved, many of these children are now being diagnosed with ASD, a phenomenon known as diagnostic substitution,' he told us. In the press release, Kennedy suggested that autism 'has to be' caused by 'environmental exposure' to toxins. Doubling down on the autism epidemic claim, he also downplayed the role of genetic heritability in this neurodevelopmental condition. How much of this is really true, though? According to Cutler, 'genetic factors play a significant role in autism,' and several large studies have shown that, in many cases, autism seems to run in families. Nevertheless, Cutler did not dismiss the notion that environmental factors also play a role, pointing out that some 'studies suggest that environmental influences during pregnancy and early childhood may also contribute to the risk.' ' Factors such as parental age, exposure to certain chemicals, and complications during birth have been associated with an increased likelihood of developing autism,' he noted. In brief, while autism diagnoses may be on the rise, the reasons for this are most likely to be found in improvements to official diagnostic criteria, heightened awareness of the complex presentation of autism among medical professionals, and better advocacy and self-advocacy among populations that have traditionally had poorer access to healthcare. And while some environmental factors may play a role in autism, as they do in most aspects of health and development, there is no evidence right now that they are the main drivers when it comes to neurodiversity. 'The increase in autism diagnoses reflects advancements in understanding, diagnosing, and recognizing autism across diverse populations. While environmental and genetic factors are under investigation, the primary drivers of the apparent rise are changes in diagnostic criteria, enhanced screening, and heightened awareness.' — David Cutler, MD Autism Genetics Neurology / Neuroscience Environment / Water / Pollution
BBC News
05-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Greater awareness not more cases behind ADHD surge, study suggests
ADHD is not becoming more common despite the surge in people being diagnosed, research review, led by King's College London, looked at 40 studies in 17 countries and found no clear evidence rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had risen since 2020, despite rising diagnoses and longer waits for blame greater social media use and the Covid pandemic for rising numbers developing the condition - but the researchers say greater awareness and acceptance were likely to be encouraging more people to seek were no signs the true rate of ADHD, known as prevalence, was on the up, they added. Lead researcher Dr Alex Martin said it was likely to be a case of under-diagnosis of the condition in the first place."ADHD prevalence in adults and children has remained largely stable since 2020," she the UK, around 3 to 4% of adults and around 5% of children and young people are thought to have ADHD. Experts believe there are similar rates in other countries but only a fraction of these have been diagnosed. Exhausting ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by difficulties with concentration, energy levels, impulsiveness, or by a person's ability to manage their study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, comes as a national taskforce in England is looking at what this rising demand for support means across the NHS, education and justice published last week by NHS England estimated there were nearly 2.5 million people in England with ADHD, with more than 550,000 currently waiting for an assessment. Every month 20,000 more people are referred for support, a 13% rise on this time last England has admitted patients are waiting "too long for assessment and diagnosis".Patient watchdog Healthwatch England has also campaigned on the issue, calling for better support.A report it published last week highlighted how ADHD can lead to people struggling in work and education and emphasised the importance of them getting a diagnosis to help understand and manage their woman, Alex, told the watchdog a diagnosis had helped her find ways to manage better and opened up access to medication which meant she was better able to care for her daughter."I just couldn't cope with normal things or keep a routine. It made living exhausting."But the 32-year-old was only able to get a diagnosis after paying for private support."I'm lucky I could afford going private, but I know many people can't," she Shelford, of ADHD UK, said the condition had been ignored for too long."Increasing awareness and diagnosis is the key to unlocking the talents of over 2 million people in the UK. "Doing so isn't just good for the individual, it's economically positive for the entire country."Prof Edmund Sonuga-Barke, a fellow at the Academy of Medical Sciences and an ADHD expert at King's College London who was not involved in the research, said it was clear there had been a "chronic under-diagnosis" of ADHD in the said while ADHD medications were safe, there needed to be more progress in developing a greater range of non-drug treatments and therapies to help people self-manage their comes amid criticism too many people are being placed on drugs to treat ADHD.
Daily Mail
01-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Scientists claim to have found a way to discover ADHD by looking at one body part
Unique changes in a particular part of the body could now help reveal signs of ADHD, new research has found. Scientists in South Korea have claimed that characteristics of the back of your eye could show signs of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects concentration, impulse control and activity levels. Using an AI computer model to predict the condition, the specialist team analysed images of the retina in a study of 323 children and adolescents with ADHD, alongside 323 without it. The model, found to have a 96 per cent accuracy rate, revealed that those with ADHD had key differences in the eye, particularly in the shape and pattern of their blood vessels. Changes such as an increase in the number of blood vessels, thicker vessels, alongside smaller optic discs (controlling how the eyes connect to the brain), were all shown to be indicators of whether or not an individual has ADHD. The eye changes may reflect the brain connectivity changes associated with ADHD given that the retina is closely linked to the brain. The group of specialist researchers, working for the Yonesi University College of Medicine in Seoul, said that their analysis of the retina had 'demonstrated potential as a noninvasive biomarker for ADHD screener'. Using an AI computer model, with a 96 per cent accuracy rate, to predict the condition, the results found that those with ADHD had key differences in the eye, particularly in the shape and pattern of their blood vessels They added: 'Notably, earlier high-accuracy models typically relied on a diverse set of variables, each contributing incrementally to differentiating subjects. 'Our approach simplifies the analysis by focusing exclusively on retinal photographs. This single-source data strategy enhances the clarity and utility of our models'. The new findings, published last month in npj Digital Medicine, could provide a crucial opportunity for a faster and more accurate diagnosis of the condition. Impacting an estimated 2.5million people across England, common symptoms of ADHD include restlessness, distractibility, forgetfulness, difficulty following instructions or managing time, and making impulsive decisions. Reflecting on the importance for a greater recognition of key symptoms, the researchers added: 'Early screening and timely intervention can improve social, familial and academic functioning in individuals with ADHD'. However, despite the significance of the results, the scientists also stressed that it is a preliminary study, with the findings based on a limited sample size and age range (average age of nine years old). The team are now hoping to apply the landmark tests to a larger group across a wider age range, while also accounting for those with disabilities such as autism. It comes as new NHS figures revealed that three and four per cent of adults and five per cent of children and young people have ADHD. Former Bake Off host Sue Perkins, pictured, said learning that she had ADHD made 'everything make sense' It comes as new NHS figures revealed that three and four per cent of adults and five per cent of children and young people have ADHD. This means a total of 2,498,000 people may have the condition, including those without a diagnosis. Of this number, an estimated 741,000 are children and young people aged five to 24. The figures also show that more than 549,000 people in England were waiting for an ADHD assessment at the end of March 2025— up from 416,000 the previous year. Of those currently waiting for an assessment, around 304,000 had been waiting at least a year—and 144,000 for two years or more, as NHS services struggle to keep up with spiraling demand. More than two-thirds (382,000) were aged between five and 24. Public figures such as Katie Price, Love Island's Olivia Atwood, Sheridan Smith and former Bake Off host Sue Perkins have also spoken publicly about their experiences with the condition. Attwood said it caused 'a lot of stress' in her teens, while Price said it explained why she never felt there would be 'consequences' for her actions. Perkins said the diagnosis made 'everything make sense'.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
ADHD symptoms to look for as NHS says staggering number of people in England have disorder
The NHS has shed light on the estimated colossal number of individuals presumed to have ADHD in England. ADHD, short for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is marked by symptoms which disrupt focus and organisation, recognised as a neurodevelopmental disorder. This condition isn't just confined to the young; it can persist into adulthood, where its signs can be subtler and more easily confused. The overlapping nature of ADHD symptoms with other conditions can often lead to misdiagnoses. READ MORE: 'Unpoliceable' parking ban come into force but drivers are still being warned READ MORE: Single mum 'breaks down' after £100 rent hike and says 'it needs to stop' NHS England's current projections indicate that nearly 2.5 million folks in England might be living with ADHD, regardless of whether they've been formally diagnosed or not. For the first time, the public can gauge the potential prevalence of ADHD across the populace, reports the Manchester Evening News. Out of the 2,498,000 individuals believed to have ADHD, around 741,000 are thought to be children and youngsters between five and 24 years old, the data indicates. These numbers spring from calculations made by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), noting an approximate three to four per cent of adults and five per cent of children and youth harbouring the condition. Further, the NHS data points out that over half a million persons (549,000) in England were queued up for an ADHD evaluation as of the end of March 2025 – a significant jump from the 416,000 tallied a year prior at the close of March 2024. Louise Ansari, at the helm of Healthwatch England, refers to these statistics as "a first step in understanding the scale of demand for ADHD care". She remarked: "Our new research highlights that many people with ADHD may simply be going without support. Long waits for assessments are one of the reasons people who show ADHD traits don't seek help, while those waiting for an assessment struggle to navigate the long waits. "While we welcome today's publication, however, there is a way to go to ensure data is comprehensive and robust. A move to official waiting list data in the longer term would give a clearer picture of waiting times, including who is experiencing the longest waits and why." ADHD Symptoms More Nuanced in Adults. Adults with ADHD often exhibit less obvious symptoms compared to children, largely due to the coping strategies they've developed over time. These understated indicators can range from regular forgetfulness to feeling swamped by routine tasks. The NHS lists several symptoms that adults with ADHD might experience: A tendency towards carelessness and overlooking details. Starting new activities before completing ongoing ones. Disorganised. Struggling to concentrate or prioritise. Regularly misplacing items. Forgetfulness. Feeling restless. Frequently speaking out of turn and interrupting conversations. In contrast, children and young people with ADHD might display signs of inattention, such as:. Being easily sidetracked. Difficulty paying attention to others or following directions. Neglecting daily activities, like personal hygiene or dressing. The NHS indicates that they may exhibit signs of hyperactivity and impulsivity, such as:. Possessing high energy levels. Fidgeting or tapping their hands and feet. Speaking loudly. Feeling restless, or rising and moving about when they're expected to remain seated. Struggling to wait their turn, or intruding on conversations. ADHD can also be misinterpreted for typical mental health issues. Individuals with ADHD may also be more prone to anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions. The NHS recommends consulting your GP if you suspect you might have ADHD. They may refer you for a specialist evaluation.
The Independent
29-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Almost 2.5m people in England likely to have ADHD, data shows
Almost 2.5 million people in England are likely to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), figures suggest. It is the first time an estimate has been made publicly available of how common the condition may be among the population. ADHD is a neuro-developmental disorder and people with the condition may have trouble concentrating or sitting still. Other symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetfulness, finding it hard to follow instructions or organise time, and making impulsive decisions. According to NHS England, a total of 2,498,000 people may have ADHD, including those without a diagnosis. Of this number, an estimated 741,000 are children and young people aged five to 24. The figures were developed using estimates from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), which suggests that around 3-4% of adults and 5% of children and young people have ADHD. While ADHD is not usually diagnosed in children under five – as some traits can be part of typical development – prevalence in youngsters aged four and under have been calculated to give an insight into how many may go on to be diagnosed in the future. Some 147,000 under-fives are likely to have ADHD, according to the NHS estimates. The figures also suggest that more than half a million people (549,000) in England were waiting for an ADHD assessment at the end of March 2025. This is up from 416,000 a year earlier at the end of March 2024. Of the 549,000 likely to be waiting for ADHD assessment in March this year, some 304,000 had been waiting at least a year while 144,000 had been waiting at least two years. More than two-thirds (382,000) were aged between five and 24. Louise Ansari, chief executive at Healthwatch England, said the figures are 'a first step in understanding the scale of demand for ADHD care'. 'Our new research highlights that many people with ADHD may simply be going without support,' she added. 'Long waits for assessments are one of the reasons people who show ADHD traits don't seek help, while those waiting for an assessment struggle to navigate the long waits. 'While we welcome today's publication, however, there is a way to go to ensure data is comprehensive and robust. 'A move to official waiting list data in the longer term would give a clearer picture of waiting times, including who is experiencing the longest waits and why.' Estimates of how many adults in England are likely to be waiting for ADHD assessments is available dating back to 2019. They show the the number of people aged 25 and over who were waiting at the end of March was 165,000, more than 10 times the pre-pandemic figure of 16,000 at the end of December 2019. Comparable data for children and young adults is available only for the most recent 12 months and shows the number rose from an estimated 285,000 at the end of March 2024 to 384,000 at the end of March this year. Pippa Sargent, chief executive of The Brain Charity, said: 'It's a hugely positive step that more people are coming forward for ADHD assessments. This shows increasing awareness, self-advocacy and a shift in how society understands neurodiversity. 'It is important to remember that, despite its challenges, the condition brings with it many strengths that should be celebrated. 'But with up to 549,000 people now waiting, the scale of unmet need is alarming. Without urgent investment in diagnostic services and ongoing support, too many are being left to struggle alone.' An NHS spokesperson said: ' Patients are waiting too long for an ADHD assessment and diagnosis and that's why the NHS launched an independent taskforce to investigate the challenges facing services and help them manage the rising numbers of referrals, with support from across society. 'The ADHD taskforce will assess these important new figures and the best available evidence to inform its recommendations, bringing together those with lived experience and experts across a range of sectors to help find long-term solutions for patients.'
