How ADHD Affects Your Brain
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Koplewicz says Attention-Deficit hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is real. The frontal lobes, cerebellums and brains of ADHD patients are markedly different from those who don’t have it.
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HAROLD KOPLEWICZ
Dr. Harold Koplewicz, a nationally recognized child and adolescent psychiatrist, is a leading figure in the field. He is a pioneer in the field, a champion for child mental health, as well as a skilled clinician. He is also a pioneer in public education to dispel myths and stigma around children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders. Koplewicz was repeatedly named in America’s Top Doctors and Best Doctors in America. He also received New York Magazine’s “Best Doctors” award. In 2006,, he was elected Director of the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research. This is the third time that Koplewicz held this position since its founding in 1952.. He is also the founder of the Child Mind Institute.
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TRANSCRIPT:
Question: Is there a difference between a normal brain and one with ADHD or not?
Harold Koplewicz: So Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a very misunderstood psychiatric disorder. It’s real. This disorder affects between five and eight percent of the world’s population. It’s not a normal condition. You have children who are more hyperactive and impulsive than others their developmental age. It is a lifetime disorder. This means that the symptoms may look different between children of different ages, such as a preschooler, school-age child, high school student, or adult. However, there is always a consistent pattern of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity.
In fact, hyperactivity often disappears with age. This symptom disappears when someone is in their late teens or early adulthood. If we can look at ADHD children’s brains, it is clear that they are different from other children. And in fact, an important study was done about 15 years ago that followed kids over a decade who had Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and these were children who had never taken medication. These were children who had met the diagnostic criteria and who were examined at the National Institute of Mental Health. Their parents said that they would never give Ritalin to their kids. They were then compared with a group of normal or typical children of the same age. They found significant differences in the cerebellum and the frontal lobe.
Your executive function is located in the frontal lobe. This is where you can prioritize which items to tackle first. What is the most important thing I need to do today? How can I do that before I tackle item 2, 3, 4, or 5 that are challenging me…as far as my daily tasks go.
The cerebellum is the place where coordination takes place. It’s interesting to note that these children grew up and reached adolescence. This would explain why hyperactivity symptoms seemed to decrease and the frontal lobe appeared smaller than normal.
Question: What are the effects of these drugs on brain imbalances?
Harold Koplewicz – I believe it is important to recognize that our brains are full of neurotransmitters. These brain chemicals move between brain parts and exchange messages.
Dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine are the three major neurotransmitters. And when you have Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, you use your dopamine and your norepinephrine faster in your brain than the average person. You may become less attentive, impulsive, or hyperactive if you don’t get enough.
ADHD patients with ADHD have smaller brain centers. These centers are rich in dopamine, and norepinephrine. It’s nice to know that there is a neuroanatomical reason to ensure that all chemicals are equal.
You can’t take serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine and get it to the brain. This is because the blood/brain barrier protects the brain, spinal cord and neurotransmitters. These brain chemicals move in that space. …
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https://medbusiness.net/how-adhd-affects-your-brain-harold-koplewicz-big-think/
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