1. Andreassen M, Berg LJ, Larsen MM, Vee TS, Andersen PN, Orm S. Academic self-efficacy and study engagement in university students with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Res Dev Disabil;2026 (Jan 10);169:105209.

OBJECTIVES: To (1) compare academic self-efficacy and study engagement between students with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), (2) examine procrastination, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships with peers and faculty as possible associated factors, and (3) explore whether these associations differ between students with and without ADHD. METHOD: Students in higher education with ADHD (n = 99; M(age) = 22.29, 79.8 % female) and without ADHD (n = 182, M(age) = 21.57, 83.5 % female) completed scales. Data were analyzed with linear regression. RESULTS: Students with ADHD reported lower academic self-efficacy (d = -.45, p < .001) and study engagement (d = -.42, p = .003), more procrastination (d = 1.32, p < .001), lower self-esteem (d = -.36, p = .007), and poorer relationships with peers (d = -.65, p < .001) and faculty (d = -.49, p < .001) than students without ADHD. Across groups, higher academic self-efficacy was associated with less procrastination (β = -.24, p < .001), higher self-esteem (β =.32, p < .001), and better relationships with faculty (β =.37, p < .001). Self-efficacy and self-esteem were more strongly associated in students with ADHD. Higher study engagement was associated with less procrastination and better relationships with peers and faculty. Females without ADHD reported higher study engagement than males, whereas no gender differences were found among students with ADHD. CONCLUSIONS: Students with ADHD experience lower academic self-efficacy and study engagement than their peers. Addressing procrastination and fostering social and academic integration may improve these outcomes.

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2. Ding P, Wang B, Tong J, Gao H, Gan H, Qiu G, Liu K, Yan S, Wu X, Huang K, Tao F, Geng M. Associations between prenatal antibiotics exposure and preschoolers’ attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptom trajectories: Unveiling the potential intervention strategies. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf;2026 (Jan 10);309:119696.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the effects of prenatal antibiotic exposure on the developmental trajectories of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in offspring and exploring intervention strategies are key to managing early-life health. METHODS: This research included 2387 motherchild pairs. Antibiotics were detected in maternal urine samples. At the ages of 3, 5, and 6 years, children’s ADHD symptoms were evaluated. Group-based trajectory modeling was employed to fit ADHD symptom trajectories. Generalized linear models and quantile-based g-computation approaches were used to investigate individual and mixed relationships between prenatal antibiotic exposure and ADHD symptom trajectories stratified by child sex, maternal folic acid (FA)/vitamin D (VD) levels, and exclusive breastfeeding. RESULTS: Preschoolers’ ADHD symptom trajectories were classified into three profiles: low risk, moderate risk, and high risk. First-trimester doxycycline and ciprofloxacin, second-trimester doxycycline and PVAs were associated with an increased risk of moderate-risk and high-risk ADHD symptoms among preschoolers. Antibiotic mixture exposure during the first trimester was positively correlated with high-risk trajectories, whereas exposure during the second trimester was associated with both moderate- and high-risk trajectories. The individual and joint effects of prenatal antibiotic exposure on ADHD symptom trajectories were more pronounced in girls. Furthermore, insufficient first-trimester FA supplementation and second-trimester VD deficiency may potentiate the relationship between specific antibiotic exposure and moderate-to-high risk trajectories. CONCLUSIONS: Both individual and mixed prenatal antibiotic exposure were positively associated with moderate-risk and high-risk trajectories of preschoolers’ ADHD symptoms, and insufficient maternal FA supplementation and VD deficiency during early pregnancy may act as potential effect modifiers.

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3. Fujiwara H, Nakagawasai O, Suzuki S, Tajima H, Takahashi K, Onogi H, Sakuma W, Tan-No K, Murata K. STAM1-deficient mice exhibit an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-like phenotype. Biochem Biophys Res Commun;2026 (Jan 8);799:153264.

Despite recent abundant studies on animal models of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a complete model remains unestablished. In this study, we investigated the potential of STAM1-deficient mice as a new animal model for ADHD. STAM1-deficient mice escaped from a high platform significantly faster than wild-type mice, indicating ADHD-like impulsivity. Low anxiety-like behavior in STAM1-deficient mice was also confirmed in an elevated plus maze and light and dark compartment test. STAM1-deficient mice also showed a slight increase in locomotor activity, an indicator of ADHD-like hyperactivity, compared to wild-type mice. The ADHD therapeutic agent atomoxetine ameliorated ADHD-like impulsivity observed in STAM1-deficient mice; STAM1-deficient mice treated with the dopamine D(4) receptor antagonist clozapine, but not the dopamine D(2) receptor antagonist haloperidol, showed reduced ADHD-like impulsivity. Additionally, STAM1-deficient mice showed decreased serotonin levels in the prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus, along with reduced dopamine levels in the caudate putamen. These results indicate that STAM1-deficient mice show ADHD-like symptoms, suggesting the possibility of a new ADHD animal model. Moreover, clozapine may be a new therapeutic agent for ADHD.

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4. Iqbal AZ, Suwindi PM, Chen SY, Cho LL, Su KP, Chang JP. Circadian rhythms and neuroendocrine dysregulation in ADHD: Therapeutic insights from omega-3 fatty acids. Biomedicine (Taipei);2025;15(4):14-29.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition often accompanied by circadian rhythm disturbances, particularly delayed sleep phase. These involve suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) dysregulation, altered melatonin secretion, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, which may be exacerbated by artificial light exposure. Genetic studies further implicate circadian mechanisms, linking ADHD with polymorphisms in clock genes such as PER and CLOCK. Nutraceuticals, particularly omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), have been proposed as modulators of circadian rhythms. N-3 PUFAs are essential for brain health and may influence melatonin synthesis and sleep-wake regulation. Preclinical and clinical findings suggest that supplementation can improve cognitive and behavioral outcomes in ADHD, possibly through circadian pathways, though direct clinical evidence remains limited. This review integrates findings on melatonin and cortisol dysregulation in ADHD and evaluates n-3 PUFAs as potential non-photic zeitgebers. N-3 PUFAs may modulate circadian clock genes in the SCN, restore rhythm synchronization, normalize melatonin secretion, stabilize HPA axis activity, and reduce systemic inflammation. Future research should focus on well-designed trials to clarify the circadian effects of n-3 supplementation in ADHD.

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5. Kandeğer A, Allison C, Çelik ME, Söylemez H, Bayırlı Ö, Selvi Y, Baron-Cohen S. Examining Social Barriers in Adults With ADHD: The Role of Autistic Traits, Empathy, Theory of Mind in Social Anxiety and Avoidance. Acta Psychiatr Scand;2026 (Jan 11)

INTRODUCTION: This case-control study examined social barriers in adults with ADHD compared to non-neurodivergent adults, focusing on autistic traits, cognitive/affective empathy, theory of mind (ToM), and social anxiety/avoidance. METHODS: A total of 142 adults with ADHD and 104 non-neurodivergent groups were assessed using the following self-report measures: the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, the Autism Spectrum Quotient, the Empathy Quotient, and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. ToM was evaluated using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test. Additionally, psychiatric interviews were conducted, incorporating diagnostic evaluation via the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders-Clinician Version, along with collection of sociodemographic and clinical data, and documentation of real-life narratives of social struggles to contextualize and deepen the interpretation of the quantitative findings. RESULTS: Adults with ADHD exhibited significantly higher levels of autistic traits and social anxiety/avoidance, along with lower cognitive and affective empathy scores, compared to controls, while ToM abilities did not differ significantly between groups. Moreover, regression analyses indicated that challenges in social skills and communication, low cognitive empathy, heightened affective empathy, and difficulties in attention switching accounted for variance in social anxiety/avoidance, independent of confounding sociodemographic and clinical factors, including the presence of co-occurring psychiatric conditions and the severity of ADHD, depression, and anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSION: While adults with ADHD exhibit intact basic ToM abilities, challenges in social-cognitive processes are associated with their social barriers. Targeted interventions such as social skills training, executive function coaching, and anxiety management may improve social outcomes and quality of life, as also highlighted by the real-life narratives-although further longitudinal, multi-method research is warranted.

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6. Lai QJ, Zhang SY, Zhang XY, Liu NN, Wang WC, Li HM, Wang YF, Liu L, Qian QJ. The Effect of Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder on Working Memory in Young Adults With ADHD and the Mediating Role of the DLPFC. Alpha Psychiatry;2025 (Dec);26(6):49137.

BACKGROUND: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) both exhibit working memory (WM) impairments and frequently co-occur. However, the impact of comorbid MDD on WM in ADHD patients and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS: The study included 409 adults, comprising 125 ADHD patients comorbid with MDD (ADHD+MDD), 145 ADHD patients without MDD (ADHD-MDD), and 139 healthy controls. In addition, functional connectivities (FCs) with the region of interest-the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)-were analyzed in a subsample to explore the potential underlying neural mechanism. RESULTS: The WM scores of the ADHD+MDD group were higher than those of the ADHD-MDD group. In all ADHD patients, depression scores were positively correlated with the WM impairment scores and explained 3.6% of the variance in WM impairment. Mediation analysis detected a potential effect of ADHD diagnosis on WM impairment via depressive symptoms. WM-related FC was identified between the left DLPFC and the right supramarginal gyrus (FC([DLPFC/L – SMG/R])), which partially mediated the relationship between the co-morbid status of MDD and WM. CONCLUSIONS: MDD in adults with ADHD exacerbated WM impairment, which may be related to the FC alteration between the left DLPFC and the right supramarginal gyrus (SMG). This finding provides a scientific basis for a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis and brain biomarkers of ADHD+MDD patients.

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7. Li Y, Lin L, Qiu H, Hou W, Gao X, Dai Y, Xu B, Chen Y, Zhang H, Yang Z, Liu M, Su S. Investigation of quantitative synthetic MRI in the evaluation of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Quant Imaging Med Surg;2026 (Jan 1);16(1):6.

BACKGROUND: Currently, synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (SyMRI) has been considered as a promising way to characterize intrinsic microstructural tissue alterations by quantitatively measuring tissue relaxation times. This study aimed to explore the utility of combining machine learning algorithms with SyMRI for identifying attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and further revealing its underlying brain pathology. METHODS: Multiple quantitative parameters (T1 and T2 relaxometry values and myelin volume fraction) of whole-brain gray and white matter derived from SyMRI data on 50 individuals with ADHD and 50 age-, sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were used as original features. Feature selection was performed by a two-sample t-test and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). Machine learning models were built based on each single feature and combined features. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve were used to evaluate the performance of classifiers. RESULTS: Machine learning model based on combined features demonstrated stable performance across different classifiers [support vector machine, random forest and linear regression yielding accuracies of 0.780, 0.770, and 0.780 (all P<0.001), respectively] and showed superior performance compared to those based on single feature [accuracy of 0.730 (gray matter) and 0.770 (white matter) with support vector machine (both P<0.001)]. The most discriminative features mainly involved the macrostructure of the frontal, temporal lobes and the cerebellum, and the microstructure of the corpus callosum, frontostriatal tracts, corticospinal tract and cingulum. Moreover, the T2 relaxation time of the left cingulum was associated with symptom severity in ADHD (r=0.285, P=0.050). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that multi-parametric quantitative metrics derived from SyMRI combined with machine learning not only achieved good classification accuracy for distinguishing ADHD from HCs but also revealed widespread microscopic changes of gray and white matter underlying ADHD. These findings highlight the potential of using SyMRI to provide a novel perspective for exploring the disease-related microstructural processes and detecting the promising imaging marker for early diagnosis of ADHD.

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