New evidence reported by the British Food Standards Agency (FSA) shows a link between food additives-commonly found in junk foods and soft drinks-and hyperactivity in children. Scientists at Southampton University tested the effects of seven synthetic colorings and preservatives in children ages 3 and 9. As a result British government researchers are warning parents to keep artificial colorings out of their children’s diet. Their data supports the long-standing suggestions that additives and preservatives are linked to ADHD.

Supermarket chains in Britain, including ASDA (a unit of Walmart stores) and Tesco, have responded by removing all artificial colors and flavors from it’s own private labeled food products. ASDA has pledged that by the end of the year it’s own labeled food and drinks would no longer contain any artificial colors or flavors, aspartame, hydrogenated fat, or flavor enhancers. http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL152719320070515

Food additives and enhancers offer no nutritional value and may be worsening your child’s behavior. We recommend keeping the use of additives to a minimum in your own family’s diet and eat healthier by choosing whole foods, served in their original form the way mother nature intended. At ADD Health and Wellness, we integrate nutritional information with traditional psychotherapeutic and medical interventions for the best outcomes.

More data released emphasizing the risks of smoking during pregnancy. Biological Psychiatry just this week released data that highlights the impact of smoking during pregnancy. Specifically, there is a connection between an unborn baby being exposed to smoking and ADHD symptoms in genetically susceptible children. The study investigated male and female twin pairs, aged 7–19 years and determined that: “When genetic factors are combined with prenatal cigarette smoke exposure, the ADHD risk rises very significantly”.

We have substantial research indicating that children with ADHD are at increased risk for substance abuse. Therefore, smoking during pregnancy actually perpetuates the difficulties associated with ADHD across generations.

Is there really more to say about Omega 3 fatty acids? Yes! According to Dr. Alex Richardson, a research fellow at Oxford University’s Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics. “Our brain is built, maintained, and repaired by what we eat” says Richardson. It is clear that nutrients do affect brain development, and in particular the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA play an important role in brain cell health. Omega-3’s have shown benefits in improving symptoms of ADHD, dyslexia, autism, and developmental coordination disorder. Still not convinced you need these essential fats? A 2005 study of 117 children ages 5-12 showed signficiant improvements in reading, spelling and ADHD symptoms after only a few months of omega-3’s. Smart tip: add a tsp of liquid fish oil to your protein shake in the morning to improve mood, learning, and behavior!http://thestar.com.my/health/story.aspfile=/2007/5/10/health/17640080&sec=health

Laughter is contagious. Research published in the Journal of Neuroscience last December has shown that positive sounds such as laughter triggers a response in the listener’s brain. This response occurs in the area of the brain that is activated when we smile, as though preparing our facial muscles to laugh. The research team played a series sounds to volunteers as they measured their brain’s response using an fMRI scanner. Sounds were positive, such as laughter or triumph, whilst others were unpleasant, such as screaming or retching. All of the sounds triggered a response in the volunteer’s brain in the pre-motor cortical region, which prepares the muscles in the face to respond accordingly, though the response was greater for positive sounds, suggesting that these were more contagious than negative sounds. The researchers believe this explains why we respond to laughter or cheering with an involuntary smile.

As most parents know, their children’s bedtime problems are a parent’s bedtime problem! However, recent research found in the current issue of the journal of Pediatrics gives us more information on the impact of parents and mothers in particular. This study had more than 10,000 families participating and results clearly indicate that both parent’s emotional well-being and physical health are significantly impacted by their child’s lack of sleep. Overall, mothers appeared to be particularly affected, the study found. Whereas only infant sleep problems were linked to poorer health among fathers, sleep difficulties at any age seemed to affect mothers’ physical and psychological well-being. 

There is more and more evidence that ADHD is in the genes. The Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group at Trinity College in Dublin is studying how people inherit genes from their parents that predict development for ADHD, autism, depression and schizophrenia. These are real illnessess, with real biology. The hope is that genetic research findings will help people understand that mental health and medical health are one in the same, and remove the stigma associated with neurobehavioral conditions such as ADHD. The more we understand differences in the underlying causes of ADHD, the better we will be at treating it. Genes are not the whole picture, but it is clear they are a large component in our mental health as well as our physical.  

http://www.irishmedicalnews.ie/articles.asp?Category=news&ArticleID=18654

A recent survey conducted by The Pew Internet and American Life Project reported that teens may be more cautious with sharing demographic information than we think. The survey reported that although teens are putting their first name and a photo, most do not include a full name or make their profile public. They are using these sites to connect with friends and people they already know. The most popular sites that teens with ADHD discuss in our offices are MySpace and Facebook. Another safety mechanism is that most social-networking sites have restricted access to their profiles in some fashion, such as by requiring passwords or making them available only to friends on an approved list. However, even with these safeguards, I continue to recommend that parents monitor their teens profile and general internet activity. Remembering that developmentally most teens believe they are immune to most problems in society.

Can you really train your brain? There are many companies now promoting “brain training” technologies, particularly for the treatment of attention deficit disorder or ADD. Not surprisingly, most of them have little or no research publications to support their spectacular claims. Is brain training technology really a legitimate alternative to medication? Buyer beware, these high tech tools for improving brain function are often just high tech marketing.

But Cogmed Working Memory Training caught my attention – no pun intended. The Cogmed program, originally developed in Sweden by a team of neuroscience researchers at the Karolinska Institute, is research-validated with more than 1,400 children and adults treated in Europe to date. Their program, showing 80% of patients have measurable improvements in brain function after treatment, is now coming to the U.S.

What is working memory training? (more…)

Learning to play an instrument is a lot like learning a foreign language; the earlier you begin studying the easier it is to learn. However, as challenging as it may be, learning to play an instrument is a wonderful opportunity as we age to address the “use it or lose it” principle. Reseach has clearly indicated that new learning is good for our brain, it can delay the onset of dementia in some case and contribute to over all well-being.

Here are a few of the details from a recent study out of Northwestern University published in April’s Natural Neuroscience. (more…)