Young men with early or heavy use of Marijuana appear to have a 70% greater risk of Testicular Cancer.  This risk is even higher the younger the age of first use.

Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research center in Seattle found an association with Nonseminoma, a fast growing and aggressive subtype of testicular cancer.  Of all testicular cancer, 40% is Nonseminoma and the rest are slower growing.

It appears that hormonal changes during puberty make young men more vulnerable.  The findings were independent of other known risk factors, such as family history, cigarette smoking and alcohol use.  It appears that the testes, like the brain, have receptors for tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the chemical component of marijuana.

I found this information very interesting.  In our center, we have seen so many young people with ADHD attempt to self-medicate with Marijuana.  It appears the dangers of Marijuana are greater than we initially understood.

There is a high incidence of both children and adults with sleep disorder problems who also have ADD/ADHD.

In a study by Ronald Chervin, a neurologist at the University of Michigan, he found that 30% of boys younger than 8 years of age that snored were identified with hyperactivity, while only 9% of non-snorers were found to be hyperactive.

The study is not suggesting that sleep disorders cause ADHD. The study rather reminds us that children can express daytime sleepiness as hyperactivity as a way to stay awake and adults can express daytime sleepiness as irritability or loopyness.

Once again the myth that ADHD does not exist is busted…..

By Redaksi Web
Harian Global — Published: Saturday, 04 July 2009

Hundreds of variations in genes which more frequently occur among attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) sufferers have been identified by researchers, many of which were known about previously as crucial for behavior and learning.

The variations seen have a broader impact on DNA structure, involving copy number variations (CNVs) which involve repeated or missing stretches of DNA. Many diseases, including schizophrenia and autism, are known to involve CNVs.

Psychiatrist Josephine Elia, M.D., said: “Because the gene alterations we found are involved in the development of the nervous system, they may eventually guide researchers to better targets in designing early intervention for children with ADHD.”

We all know that individuals with Attention Deficit Disorder are challenged with more than attention or multi-tasking; and yet the premise of the article is accurate in expressing how the speed of technology can affect individuals with Attention Deficit Disorder.  Read the article and let us know your thoughts and feelings…

By Bridgitt Robertson  

Atlanta Web Examiner  - Published: February 28, 2009

Are you experiencing short attention spans? Do you have difficulty empathizing with others? Well, according to one neuroscientist, this might be the result of your visits to social networking sites like Facebook.

According to Professor Greenfield, a neuroscientist at Lincoln college, “It might be helpful to investigate whether the near total submersion of our culture in screen technologies over the last decade might in some way be linked to the threefold increase over this period in prescriptions for methylphenidate, the drug prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.”  Methylphenidate, or Ritalin, prescriptions have also increased in the US. Interestingly, college students in the U.S. who were already on Ritalin, Prozac and other psych meds and in need of additional counseling rose from 7% in 1992 to 18% in 2000. Could there be a link to their online activities?

Some experts suggest that excessive exposure to new digital technology can be problematic for the brain’s ability to respond. In fact, there are some studies that suggest that not everyone can handle multitasking and that the demands of today’s technologies may result in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

While we applause the vast technological changes taking place in our society, some experts say that such technologies prevent us from paying full attention to one thing. That technologies like instant messenging and Twitter require quick responses versus depth and sublety in our thinking.

According to Dr. Greenfield, who spoke of one Facebook user claiming 900 friends,”that you can’t see or hear other people makes it easier to reveal yourself in a way that you might not be comfortable with. You become less conscious of the individuals involved [including yourself], less inhibited, less embarrassed and less concerned about how you will be evaluated.”

Given the brain’s exposure to roughly eight hours of technology every day, it is likely that our high-tech revolution will have some sort of impact on our behavior. In fact, initial results indicate important links between extensive brain exposure to new technology and mental disorders.

So the next time your attention span is short or you feel you’re lacking emphathy, perhaps that’s the time to turn off the computer and your other electronic gadgets and go outside and get some good fresh air.

CEC SMARTBRIEF, January 02, 2009

Infants and toddlers who suffer head injuries or burns are twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD before they turn 10, according to a new British study of 62,000 children. Such injuries may be early signs of risky behavior associated with ADHD, or the injuries might cause later behavioral changes, researchers say.

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, November 2008

Contrary to a previous concerns, new research shows ADHD medications don’t increase genetic damage and cancer risk.

A new study from Duke University Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health found that two popular medications for treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) — methylphenidate (Ritalin LA and Concerta) and amphetamine (Adderall and Adderall XR) — do not lead to an increased risk for developing cancer.

The study counters a previous one that reported an increase in genetic damage in children taking methylphenidate. The genetic damage is associated with an increased risk of cancer.

The new study used a larger sample of children, and did not find increased genetic abnormalities.

The study was published in the November online issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

Read more about the study. 

By Tara Parker-Pope

International Herald Tribune, France —    Published: November 25, 2008

When pediatricians diagnose attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, they often ask their patients whether they know anybody else with the problem.

These days, children are likely to reply with a household name: Michael Phelps, the Olympic superstar, who is emerging as an inspirational role model among parents and children whose lives are affected by attention problems.

“There is a tremendous, tremendous amount of pride – I got the impression sometimes that some of the kids felt like they owned Michael,” said Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz, director of the Child Study Center at New York University Langone Medical Center. “There is a special feeling when someone belongs to your club and the whole world is adoring him.”

But the emergence of a major celebrity with attention deficit has revealed a schism in the community of patients, parents, doctors and educators who deal with the disorder. For years, these people have debated whether it means a lifetime of limitations or whether it can sometimes be a good thing.

Children with the disorder typically have trouble sitting still and paying attention. But they may also have boundless energy and a laser-like focus on favorite things – qualities that could be very helpful in, say, an Olympic athlete.

For that reason, some doctors are pushing for a new view that focuses on the potential strengths of the disorder. Dr. Edward M. Hallowell, a psychiatrist and author whose books include “Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping With Attention Deficit Disorder From Childhood Through Adulthood” (Touchstone, 1995), says the current “deficit-based medical model” of the disorder results in low self-esteem.

“It’s not an unmitigated blessing, but neither is it an unmitigated curse, which is usually the way it’s presented,” said Hallowell, who has the disorder himself. “I have been treating this condition for 25 years, and I know that if you manage it right, this apparent deficit can become an asset. I think of it as a trait and not a disability.”

The notion that a disability can be harnessed in a positive way is not a new concept. Last year, a study found that 35 percent of the small-business entrepreneurs surveyed identified themselves as dyslexic. The researchers concluded that dyslexia made them better communicators and problem-solvers, more likely to delegate authority.

Hallowell says low self-esteem and low expectations result from the way the ADHD diagnosis is presented to children, parents and teachers. He tells children with attention deficit that they have the brain of a race car, and he wants to work with them to build better brakes.

“We want to tell children, ‘You’ve got a difference, but not a disease,”‘ he said. “Michael Phelps is one of any thousands of examples of mega-successful people – CEOs and brain surgeons and famous writers, inventors and entrepreneurs – who have ADHD.”

Other experts, however, say that parents need to know that their children face real risks. Research shows that children with attention deficit have different brain patterns from other children, and that they are more likely to drop out of school, be involved in car accidents and use illicit drugs.

“This reframing ADHD as a gift – personally I don’t think it’s helpful,” said Natalie Knochenhauer, founder of ADHD Aware, an advocacy group in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. “You can’t have a disability that needs to be accommodated in the classroom, and also have this special gift. There are a lot of people out there – not only do their kids not have gifts, but their kids are really struggling.”

Knochenhauer, who has four children with the disorder, says they too were inspired by the astonishing performance of Phelps in Beijing. But, she added, “I would argue that Michael Phelps is a great swimmer with ADHD, but he’s not a great swimmer because he has ADHD.”

Koplewicz, of NYU, agreed. “There are lots of children in the world who have chronic illnesses or disorders like diabetes, allergies or dyslexia who accomplish great things in spite of the fact that they have these disorders,” he said. “I worry when we say ADHD is a gift that this minimizes how real it is.”

Michael Phelps’ mother, Deborah Phelps, says she has spoken openly about her son’s diagnosis because she wants other parents to seek out resources and support. Her son stopped taking ADHD medication at age 10. But today, Deborah Phelps is a national spokeswoman for McNeil Pediatrics, which makes the attention-deficit drug Concerta.  (Hallowell and Knochenhauer have also consulted for McNeil; Koplewicz has no industry ties.)

Deborah Phelps, who is a school principal in Baltimore, says it may require extra effort and knowledge to help children with the disorder harness their talents.

“You’ll find they are creative children,” she said. “They do have determination when you are able to work with them and be consistent. I want young parents to reach out and get assistance and not give up hope.”

Share your thoughts and experiences about ADHD being a gift

The Patriot Ledger, Washington, D.C. —   Posted: November 25, 2008 

Despite suggestions made in Joan Endyke’s Nov. 12 column, “Healthy Eating: Artificial food additives affect children’s behavior;” the vast body of science supports the conclusion that additives do not cause childhood hyperactivity.

In fact, this position is supported by the National Resource Center on ADHD, a national clearinghouse for evidence-based information about Attention deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Further, based on at least eight controlled studies from 1982 to 1997, the National Resource Center on ADHD has found no direct link between these food colors and hyperactivity in a large majority of the population. 

We would like to here your thoughts about additives and ADHD….