1. Arrizibita O, Gutiérrez-Valencia M, Saiz LC, Galbete A, Leache L, Erviti J, Librero J. Demographic and socioeconomic factors influencing ADHD diagnosis in children and adolescents: a population-based nested case-control study. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2026.

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2. Einziger T, Frenkel TI. Unpacking temperamental risk: Interactions among infant temperamental domains of reactivity and regulation differentially predict attention-deficit/hyperactivity and anxiety/depression symptoms. Infant Behav Dev. 2026; 83: 102190.

Early dispositions in temperamental domains of motor reactivity, negative emotionality (NE), and regulatory capacities are transdiagnostic risk factors for psychopathology, including symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety/depression. However, prior research examining broad temperament constructs may obscure disorder-specific patterns. Fine-grained distinctions within domains (e.g., anger vs. fear within NE) and their interactions have rarely been investigated for disorder-specific outcomes. The present study examined whether interactive effects among motor reactivity, NE (anger vs. fear), and regulatory capacities assessed at 4 months uniquely predicted ADHD and anxiety/depression symptoms at 5 years. The study contributes to existing literature in two ways: first, unlike research focused on later-emerging effortful control, early precursory regulatory capacities were assessed at 4 months to predict later psychopathology risk. Second, while accounting for overlap between outcomes and disaggregating NE into fear and anger, both transdiagnostic and disorder-specific risk pathways were examined. Ninety-one infants participated (54.94% male; all White; 71.76% with monthly household income >$3400). Parent-reported and observational measures of temperament were collected at 4 months, and mothers reported child symptoms at age 5 years. Lower regulatory capacities, both independently and combined with high anger or motor reactivity, specifically predicted ADHD symptoms. Lower regulatory capacities conferred risk for higher-reactive infants, whereas higher regulatory capacities conferred protective effects for higher-reactive infants. Conversely, high fear combined with high motor reactivity specifically predicted anxiety/depression symptoms. Early identification of fine-grained disorder-specific temperamental risk may inform targeted preventive interventions tailored to children’s temperamental profiles.

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3. Herborg F, Konrad LK, Jørgensen SH, Lilja JH, Delignat-Lavaud B, Posselt LP, Pugh CF, Bach SA, Ratner CF, Awadallah N, Pino JA, Berlin F, Ejdrup AL, Olesen MV, Rickhag M, Holst B, Aznar S, Mayer FP, Woldbye D, Torres G, Trudeau LE, Gether U. Mouse model of atypical DAT deficiency syndrome uncovers dopamine dysfunction associated with parkinsonism and ADHD. J Clin Invest. 2026; 136(6).

Atypical dopamine transporter (DAT) deficiency syndrome (DTDS) arises from genetic disruption of DAT function and is characterized by early-onset parkinsonism alongside comorbid psychiatric symptoms. However, the underlying pathobiological processes are largely unknown. Here, we present a mouse model of atypical DTDS based on the patient-derived compound heterozygote genotype, DAT-I312F/D421N+/+. DAT-I312F/D421N+/+ mice exhibited markedly impaired DAT function, leading to widespread changes in dopamine homeostasis, including elevated extracellular dopamine levels, reduced tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine D1/D2 receptor expression, and decreased evoked dopamine release, mechanistically linked to enhanced tonic D2 autoreceptor inhibition. Fiber photometry measurements revealed disrupted fast striatal dopamine release dynamics, while confocal imaging showed reduced striatal dopaminergic axon fiber density. These neurochemical changes were accompanied by a psychomotor phenotype characterized by hyperlocomotion, enhanced exploration, and pronounced clasping. Both amphetamine and anticholinergic treatment ameliorated the aberrant hyperactivity. Notably, amphetamine-induced dopamine release was profoundly blunted in ventral striatum but largely preserved in dorsal striatum, implicating region-specific dopamine release dynamics as a determinant of divergent behavioral and pharmacological responses. Summarized, our findings uncover multiscale dopamine dysfunction that links presynaptic DAT impairment to synaptic and circuit-level disruptions, offering insight into atypical DTDS and the co-occurrence of movement and psychiatric features.

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4. Lee DH, Suarez-Lopez JR. Maternal Diabetes Mellitus and Child Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Rethinking Causality in Light of Environmental Pollutants. J Korean Med Sci. 2026; 41(10): e110.

Numerous epidemiological studies have linked maternal diabetes mellitus (DM) to neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring, such as autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. However, recent evidence challenges a direct causal relationship: sibling-matched analyses show similar risks regardless of gestational DM status, and glycemic control during pregnancy does not consistently predict neurodevelopmental outcomes. We propose that exposure to environmental pollutants-rather than DM itself-may underlie these associations. Although usually examined separately, many pollutants both increase DM risk and disrupt fetal brain development, providing a biologically plausible basis for the observed epidemiological patterns. Because fetuses encounter these pollutants via placental transfer from maternal blood, understanding what determines maternal circulating pollutant levels is essential. Two major sources contribute: (1) ongoing external exposure through food, air, water, and consumer products, and (2) the release of previously accumulated lipophilic pollutants stored in adipose tissue. Often overlooked, adipose tissue serves as an important reservoir, and lipolysis mobilizes these compounds into circulation. Importantly, key pathophysiological features of DM-insulin resistance and insulin deficiency-accelerate lipolysis, increasing circulating pollutant levels. These pollutant-related mechanisms may also account for associations observed with other maternal conditions, such as obesity, eating disorders, psychological stress, and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, all of which may also be linked to elevated pollutant levels in maternal circulation. These insights suggest that maternal risk factors should be reconsidered in light of toxicokinetic dynamics, particularly the mobilization of lipophilic pollutants stored in fat. This perspective may offer a unifying explanation for otherwise disparate epidemiological findings and help guide more effective prevention strategies.

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5. Osborne JB, Sellers J, Zhang H, Wang S, Liberatore S, Sripada C, Shah P, Jonides J. Delayed goal-directed processing underlies inhibitory control challenges in adult ADHD. Sci Rep. 2026.

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6. Pinggal E, Jackson J, Kusztor A, Chapman D, Windt J, Drummond SPA, Silk TJ, Bellgrove MA, Andrillon T. Sleep-like Slow Waves During Wakefulness Mediate Attention and Vigilance Difficulties in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. J Neurosci. 2026.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterised by behavioural variability and heightened inattention associated with increased mind wandering (MW) and mind blanking (MB). Individuals with ADHD frequently experience sleep disorders and excessive daytime sleepiness, suggesting interactions between attention and arousal systems. Research examining brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG) has demonstrated that sleep-like slow waves (SW) during wakefulness are linked to inattention in neurotypical individuals following sleep deprivation, yet their role in ADHD remains unclear. This study investigated whether individuals with ADHD present with altered waking SW distribution compared to neurotypical controls and whether SW explain attentional difficulties in ADHD.Adults with (n = 32) and without ADHD (n = 31) completed a sustained attention task while EEG recorded brain activity. Mental state probes (on-task, MW, MB) were embedded within the task. Sleep-like SW reflect cortical slowing and were detected from EEG activity. Omission/commission errors, reaction time (RT), RT variability, mental state reports and subjective sleepiness were analysed. Mediation analysis examined whether SW density explained ADHD-related performance differences.Individuals with ADHD exhibited more commission errors, MW and MB, more theta oscillations over fronto-temporal electrodes and higher SW density (SW/min) over parieto-temporal electrodes. Increased SW density correlated with higher omission errors, slower RTs, greater RT variability, and elevated sleepiness ratings. On-task reports were negatively correlated with SW density. Mediation analysis revealed that SW density significantly accounted for ADHD-related attentional difficulties.Wake SW may explain attentional difficulties in ADHD, providing a potential mechanistic link between sleep disturbances and attentional fluctuations.Significance Statement We investigated whether slow waves during wakefulness could explain attentional difficulties in ADHD by comparing neurotypical adults and medication-withdrawn adults with ADHD during a sustained attention task with embedded mental state probes. Using electroencephalography, we quantified slow-wave activity and examined its relationship with objective performance measures and subjective reports of mind wandering and blanking. The ADHD group exhibited significantly higher slow wave activity which correlated with increased objective and subjective attentional lapses. Importantly, mediation analysis revealed that slow wave density accounted for performance differences between groups, suggesting that wake slow waves represent a neurophysiological mechanism underlying attentional difficulties in ADHD. These findings bridge sleep and attention research in ADHD, offering new insights into ADHD’s heterogeneous nature and potential intervention targets.

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7. Poreh A, Abdallah S, Levin JB. The Keshev-A: An adult ADHD screening measure incorporating indirect questioning and developmental indicators. Appl Neuropsychol Adult. 2026: 1-9.

This study examined the psychometric properties of the 35-item Keshev-A, one of the first adult ADHD screening questionnaires to include indirect questioning and retrospective school-age indicators. A sample of 1,668 volunteers completed the new scale and the ASRS-v1.1. The internal consistency of the Keshev-A’s composite score was excellent (α = 0.94), as was that of each of the eight content-based subscales (α = .70 to .85). An exploratory factor analysis (EFA; n = 904) using principal axis factoring identified three latent factors (1) Executive Functioning/Inattention, (2) Preadolescent Hyperactivity and Attentional Difficulties, and (3) Low Self-Concept. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA; n = 844) showed acceptable fit (CFI = .94, TLI = .93, SRMR = .044, RMSEA = .069, 90% CI [.066, .071]). The convergent validity of this new scale was supported by its strong positive correlation with the ASRS-v1.1, r(1,668) = .885, p < .001. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses showed that the Keshev-A had higher screening accuracy (AUC = .881) than the ASRS-v1.1's total score (AUC = .851) (ΔAUC = .030, z = 2.94, p = .003). This difference was primarily driven by improved negative predictive value (NPV = 63.82% vs. 54.20%) and a lower negative likelihood ratio (LR- = 0.24 vs. 0.35), indicating better identification of individuals without a self-reported ADHD diagnosis. In sum, these results show that the Keshev-A may serve as an effective instrument for screening probable ADHD. Implications for scale use, future integration within multiscale mental health instruments, and the development of symptom exaggeration subscales are discussed.

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8. Verwaerde O, Galera C, Bouvard M, Briot K. Experience of the diagnostic journey for ADHD in adulthood: A quantitative and qualitative study. Encephale. 2026.

INTRODUCTION: Attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD) affects between 2% and 3% of the world’s adult population. In France, there is a noticeable lack of understanding of adult ADHD, which is still too often considered a childhood disorder and is sometimes the cause of a delayed diagnosis for these patients. METHOD: To assess the diagnostic experience of people diagnosed with ADHD during adulthood, we carried out a quantitative study with a self-questionnaire proposed to 201 patients aged 17 or over, as well as a qualitative study with 8 patient interviews. RESULTS: In our sample of respondents, 47% felt that they had had a difficult to very difficult diagnostic journey. Throughout the diagnostic process, patients diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood were confronted with various factors influencing their experience, some of which cannot be modified (age, gender, personal experiences, characteristics of the disorder, etc.), and some of which may have had an impact on the direction this process took. For the rest, the patient’s surroundings and the encountered care providers played a major role in the patient’s experience of the people around him/her and their beliefs, the patient him/herself, or the physicians met, and their responses and attitudes towards the patient. These factors were all evaluated in this study. Interview analysis of these patients’ experiences reflected the serious consequences of misdiagnosis. Even though ADHD has been recognized and defined for many years, the persistence of controversy, beliefs and even misinformation, with disagreements sometimes even within the medical profession, have impacted the patient’s journey. However, the diagnosis of ADHD, albeit later in life, is generally well accepted by patients who express relief from the guilt associated with their past experiences. This diagnosis also helps reduce the consumption of medical treatments, because of an adapted care, and represents a key for these patients to understand their own identity. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic journey for adult ADHD sufferers is long and difficult. Efforts to raise awareness of adult ADHD, both among medical staff and the general public, as well as the introduction of tools to help facilitate this diagnostic journey still need to be developed.

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9. Wang P, Shi Y, Luo Z, Wang J, Zhang Y. Global statistics of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and conduct disorder among school-age children from 1990-2021, with forecasts to 2040. Neuroepidemiology. 2026: 1-25.

BACKGROUND: Mental disorders among school-age children represent a significant global health issue and substantially contribute to the global disease burden. This study aims to examine the patterns and trends of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and conduct disorder (CD), which are commonly observed in school-age children, from 1990 to 2021, offering valuable insights for health policy formulation, medical resource allocation, and optimization of patient management strategies. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study for 21 regions and 204 countries, focusing on prevalence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), gender, and different time periods to gain a deeper understanding of the health burden. We assessed correlations with the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and employed autoregressive integrated moving average modeling to forecast developments up to 2040, enabling us to better comprehend the burden and trends of these mental disorders. RESULTS: In 2021, the prevalence rates of ADHD, ASD, and CD per 100,000 population among children aged 5-14 years were 2374.8, 847.13, and 2146.48, respectively; DALYs rates were 29.17, 162.85, and 262.53, respectively. Compared to 1990, prevalence and DALYs rates exhibited changes of -0.06, 0.03, and 0.04, respectively. Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom exhibited particularly notable burdens, with the United Kingdom continuing to show rapid growth in ASD, while ADHD and CD increased rapidly in China and India, respectively. Gender and age analyses revealed a higher burden among males. Regions with high SDI displayed higher epidemiological indicators. For the 2040 forecast, the indicators for ADHD in terms of prevalence and DALYs are projected to be 3796.65 and 44.33 for males, and 1343.18 and 16.23 for females. For ASD, they are projected to be 1103.04 and 215.23 for males, and 552.01 and 106.40 for females. For CD, they are projected to be 2650.69 and 325.64 for males, and 1593.57 and 200.41 for females. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the complex epidemiological landscape of ADHD, ASD, and CD, revealing variations in burden across gender and geographical regions. It emphasizes the urgent need for healthcare professionals and policymakers to devise innovative prevention and healthcare strategies based on the current and evolving burden of these mental disorders, with the aim of alleviating the global disease burden.

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