Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/Khamidulin Sergey

Does sleeplessness cause ADHD? Scientists think it might play a role

Around 75% of children and adults with ADHD also have sleep problems.

ATTENTION HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) may be associated with lack of regular circadian sleep, researchers have claimed.

Circadian rhythm sleep disorders affect how and when a person sleeps, and can lead to them being unable to go to sleep and wake up at ‘normal’ times.

ADHD refers to a group of behavioural symptoms with a neurobiological background, including inattentiveness, hyperactivity and mood swings. Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may become more noticeable when a child starts school.

Between 2% and 5% of children and adults suffer from ADHD. Around 75% of people with the condition also have sleep problems, but until now these have been thought to be separate issues.

After compiling the latest research, scientists are proposing a new theory on the subject – that sleeplessness may cause some cases of ADHD.

If this is found to be true, researchers have said some people with ADHD could be treated by non-pharmacological methods, such as changing light or sleep patterns.

This theory is being discussed at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) conference in Paris this weekend. The ECNP is an independent scientific association dedicated to the science and treatment of brain disorders.

Discussing the research, Professor Sandra Kooij, founder and chair of the European Network Adult ADHD organisation, told the conference: “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 the majority of patients.

We believe this because the day and night rhythm is disturbed, 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 two sides of the same physiological and mental coin.”

Changing light or sleep pattern

Kooij said researchers are working to confirm this “physical-mental relationship” by examining markers such as Vitamin D levels, blood glucose levels, cortisol levels, blood pressure and heart rate.

If the connection is confirmed, it raises the intriguing question: does ADHD cause sleeplessness, or does sleeplessness cause ADHD? If it’s 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,” Kooij stated.

Kooij said the theory is backed up by the following statistics:

  • 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 legs syndrome, sleep apnoea and the circadian rhythm disturbance
  • People with ADHD 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
  • 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’

Commenting on the research, Professor Andreas Reif, leader of an EU-funded international research project on ADHD (CoCA), 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.”

Reif, who was not involved in the research, added: “Sleep problems and abnormalities of circadian rhythms are a huge problem for many patients, heavily impacting on their social life.

“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.”

Read: Public concern over anti-loitering spikes outside Dublin’s Jervis Street shopping centre

Read: Nigel Farage accuses EU of being “only barrier” to open border with Northern Ireland

Close
10 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dáithí Ó Raghallaigh
    Favourite Dáithí Ó Raghallaigh
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 7:35 AM

    Could that no be reversed and the question asked does ADHD cause sleeplessness?
    Dr Google is going to be busy today….

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Terry McClatchey
    Favourite Terry McClatchey
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 8:49 AM

    @Dáithí Ó Raghallaigh: The clue lies in the contradiction between the headline and the first line – “caused by” and “associated with” are not the same thing.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian O Reilly
    Favourite Brian O Reilly
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 7:58 AM

    Physical Exercise preferably in a team setting with people of your own age ,GAA ,local Soccer club ,Karate,Athletics anything that gets you out and expending energy in a social setting and away from your phone

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shannon Mcg
    Favourite Shannon Mcg
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 10:46 AM

    When I was diagnosed with ADHD at 7, I didn’t have sleep problems. As I hit adolescence, then Insomnia reared its ugly head.
    Sleep problems are a related symptom, not a creator.

    The entirety of this article is basically doctors going “a lot of people with ADHD suffer from sleep problems so maybe if we can help them deal with their sleep schedule, that can make their ADHD more managable” yet the title of this article is “ADHD is caused by sleep problems!” which is completely wrong.

    Journal, stop your clickbaitery and do actual reporting

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sam Lean
    Favourite Sam Lean
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 2:26 PM

    @Shannon Mcg: I was diagnosed as an adult and met someone who was diagnosed young and given medication. I took there advice and looked at my diet which seems to help manage it.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shannon Mcg
    Favourite Shannon Mcg
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 2:36 PM

    @Sam Lean: I eat mostly vegetarian food, meat twice a week. Only water and herbal teas, no caffeine.
    so please say it is my diet again

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute N R One
    Favourite N R One
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 10:14 AM

    It’s like saying which came first, the chicken or the egg.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shannon Mcg
    Favourite Shannon Mcg
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 10:50 AM

    Also – ADHD is Attention Defecit Hyperactive Disorder, not Attention Hyperactive Disorder.
    Proofread. It’s a thing you should invest in.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kavitha Balakrishnan
    Favourite Kavitha Balakrishnan
    Report
    Jan 2nd 2018, 9:47 AM

    @Stephen murphy, Till date, there is no known single cause for ASD. Researchers are trying to understand the potential underlying cause(s) for ASD including genetic causes and environmental causes. In children with ASD, it is believed that it is important to start therapy/intervention programs as early as possible. Though there are several treatment procedures available. Early behavioral intervention is the one which shows positive in treating autism spectrum disorder. Know more about the early behavioral intervention at https://www.totsguide.com/scope-program

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen murphy
    Favourite Stephen murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 12:57 PM

    I’d like to know, is it the crap food we eat causing all these issues? ADHD to Autism and beyond, will we ever find that out and the powerful food industry doing honest research on it?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sam Lean
    Favourite Sam Lean
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 2:27 PM

    @Stephen murphy: Autism is linked to older farthers.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel