1. Boone PM, Harripaul R, Yadav R, Grzybowski M, Hanafy MK, Lee AC, Choi EY, Collins RL, Polesskaya O, Makhortova N, Larson MO, Kayir H, Wang Y, Avila RA, Frie JA, Eed A, Albeely AM, Vemuri S, Ayoub SM, Lemanski JM, Ben-Isvy D, Zhao X, Sanchis-Juan A, Handley M, Erdin S, de Esch C, Mohajeri K, Chen C, Tovar PG, Salani M, Moyses-Oliveira M, Tai DJC, Currall B, McGraw C, Slaugenhaupt S, Doan R, Gao D, Gusella JF, Sanchez-Roige S, Young JW, Khokhar JY, Geurts AM, Palmer AA, Talkowski ME. Aberrant recursive splicing in a human disease locus. Cell Rep. 2026; 45(10): 118081.

Recursive splice sites are rare motifs postulated to facilitate splicing across massive introns and shape isoform diversity. The necessity of recursive splicing (RS) and its role in human disease are unsubstantiated. Here, we use CRISPR to model intronic deletions eliminating an RS site (RS1) in CADM2 and conferring risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other neurobehavioral traits. Ablating RS1 in human induced neurons alters the gradient of RNA abundance across CADM2’s first intron, decreases CADM2 expression, and impacts transcript usage. Decreased CADM2 expression is reflected in reduced exon usage downstream of RS1 and global alteration to genes involved in neuronal processes. In vivo rodent models harboring Cadm2 RS1 deletions exhibit an attenuated effect on Cadm2 expression and modest changes in behavior and functional brain connectivity. This study demonstrates RS as a noncoding regulatory mechanism in a gene associated with a spectrum of neuropsychiatric and behavioral traits.

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2. Farmani R, Mehrpour O, Kooshki A, Nakhaee S. Correction: Exploring the link between toxic metal exposure and ADHD: a systematic review of pb and hg. J Neurodev Disord. 2026; 18(1).

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3. Iwamae M, Toyoda H, Kurita N, Nikaido T, Tominaga R, Endo Y, Fujita N, Konno S, Ohtori S. Adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms are associated with chronic low back pain: a nationwide cross-sectional study of 2113 individuals. Eur Spine J. 2026.

PURPOSE: Low back pain (LBP) is a major contributor to reduced quality of life and increasing global healthcare burdens. Recently, adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been associated with chronic pain interference. In this study, we examined the prevalence and characteristics of ADHD symptoms in the general population and their association with LBP. METHODS: This nationwide cross-sectional observational study included 2,113 participants from a survey of randomly selected residents aged ≥ 20 years. Self-reported ADHD symptoms were assessed using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), a screening instrument for possible ADHD in adults. Perceived stress and psychological distress were assessed with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Kessler 6-Item Psychological Distress Scale (K6), respectively. Participants were grouped by LBP status as no LBP, acute/subacute LBP, or chronic LBP, and multinomial logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with each; models with and without the PSS and K6 were compared. RESULTS: A positive ADHD screen was identified in 3.27% of participants, of whom 23.2% reported chronic LBP compared with 11.0% of screen-negative participants. A higher ASRS score was associated with chronic LBP after adjustment (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.255 per 10-point increase, 95% confidence interval 1.051-1.509, p = 0.010), as were older age, comorbidity burden, smoking, and the PSS and K6 scores. None of the psychosocial measures was associated with acute/subacute LBP. The aOR for the ASRS score fell from 1.548 to 1.255 when the PSS and K6 were added to the model but remained significant. DISCUSSION: A positive ADHD screen on the ASRS was identified in 3.27% of participants from the general population, and a higher score for self-reported adult ADHD symptoms remained statistically associated with chronic LBP after adjustment for established associated factors, including perceived stress and psychological distress.

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4. Kerr-German AN, Lin E, Gasaway G, Lundstrum E, Patton S, Hudson H, Busch C. Probing Executive Function in the Toddler Data Desert: A Touchscreen fNIRS Study of Working Memory and ADHD-Related Symptoms. Behav Sci (Basel). 2026; 16(10).

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with early differences in attentional control and working memory (WM), yet relatively few paradigms are developmentally feasible across the toddler-to-preschool period while also distinguishing spatial from featural information use. Addressing this « Toddler Data Desert, » we extended a self-ordered pointing paradigm into a touchscreen WM search task paired with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to characterize developmental changes in search behavior and cortical recruitment. The larger study enrolled 204 children aged 2-6 years; 200 completed both Set Size 3 conditions, 197 completed both Set Size 6 conditions, and 162 completed both Set Size 9 conditions after a performance-based advancement criterion. Children completed stationary, spatially informative and feature-informative, featural/color-informative Treasure Chest blocks across increasing memory loads while fNIRS measured bilateral frontal, temporal, and parietal responses. Behaviorally, children required fewer selections during spatial than featural search at Set Sizes 3 and 6, and performance improved with age; this condition difference was no longer statistically reliable at Set Size 9 within the selected higher-performing subset. Immediate perseverative selections also decreased markedly with age. Exploratory post hoc sequence analyses further showed increasingly organized spatial search under higher memory load, whereas featural search remained comparatively heterogeneous, and organization in a preceding spatial block did not reliably predict subsequent featural search. Symptom-defined ADHD risk did not significantly predict behavioral efficiency. Neurally, spatial and featural blocks showed age-associated differences in distributed frontotemporal-parietal recruitment, and the elevated-symptom group showed broader frontal recruitment despite comparable behavioral performance. Together, these findings support the Treasure Chest Task as a toddler-feasible approach for examining developmental differences in spatial and featural working-memory search while highlighting the value of integrating behavioral sequence measures with cortical activity. Neural risk-group findings should be interpreted as cross-sectional associations rather than diagnostic biomarkers.

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5. McGrath J. A digital platform for ADHD assessment and management: stakeholder-informed development and clinical implications. Ir J Psychol Med. 2026: 1-9.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common neurodevelopmental disorder presenting to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Ireland, where variability in assessment, monitoring, and follow-up persists despite established standards of care. The ADMiRE clinical pathway was developed to improve consistency in care delivery, but its paper-based format limited scalability and increased administrative burden. This perspective describes the development of a digital platform to operationalise the ADMiRE pathway in routine clinical practice. The system was developed through an iterative, stakeholder-informed process involving clinicians and service stakeholders. The platform includes structured referral management, standardised diagnostic and monitoring tools with automated scoring, medication and case management, longitudinal monitoring, and automated clinical documentation. These features aim to support more consistent, guideline-informed care and reduce administrative burden while improving continuity across services. The experience highlights opportunities and challenges in translating structured clinical pathways into scalable digital systems within CAMHS.

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6. Olivola M, Landi P, Martiadis V, De Ciechi A, Bucca C, Reibman YL, Giacovelli L, Bernoni E, Venturi V, Dell’Osso B. ADHD Presentations and Severity in Adults: Psychometric Profiles, Psychiatric Comorbidities, and Emotional Dysregulation in Relation to Psychiatric Hospitalization. J Clin Med. 2026; 15(20).

Background/Objectives: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults is heterogeneous in symptom presentation, severity, and comorbid psychopathology, yet systematic data from Italian clinical populations remain limited. Methods: In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, we analyzed routine clinical data from 219 adults with a DSM-5 diagnosis of ADHD at a specialist mental health service in Milan. We compared psychometric profiles and psychiatric comorbidities across ADHD presentations (Combined vs. Inattentive), examined the associations of clinician-rated ADHD severity with dimensional and categorical outcomes, and explored, in an exploratory cross-sectional indirect-effect analysis, whether emotional dysregulation statistically accounted for the association between ADHD severity and psychiatric hospitalization. Multiplicity was addressed with Holm and false-discovery-rate procedures within predefined families of outcomes. Measures included the Zung Depression Scale, STAI, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Internet Addiction Test, Adult ADHD Quality of Life Scale, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and the SCID-5-PD. Analyses comprised MANCOVA, multiple linear and binary logistic regression, and an exploratory indirect-effect analysis (PROCESS Model 4). Results: The Combined presentation was associated with nearly fivefold higher odds of substance use disorder than the Inattentive presentation (robust to Holm correction), whereas the overall multivariate difference in psychometric profiles was not significant and the higher emotional dysregulation in the Combined presentation was a small effect not robust to multiplicity correction. Greater ADHD severity was associated with greater emotional dysregulation and higher odds of substance use disorder (both robust to Holm correction) and, less robustly, with depressive symptoms, problematic internet use, and lower quality of life. A statistically significant cross-sectional indirect association between ADHD severity and hospitalization via emotional dysregulation was observed (indirect effect B = 0.21, 95% CI [0.03, 0.50]); because the temporal ordering of these variables could not be established, this finding does not demonstrate mediation. Female sex was independently associated with lower quality of life and higher depressive symptoms, and higher educational level was associated with lower odds of substance use disorder and hospitalization. Conclusions: These findings, obtained in a specialist clinical sample, support the clinical relevance of assessing ADHD presentation, severity, and emotional dysregulation, and generate hypotheses that require confirmation in prospective, multicentre studies.

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7. Ruffer HC, Jones EJH, Meaburn EL. Infancy & early childhood motor activity levels as predictors of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2026.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterised by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Although motor overactivity is a defining feature of the ADHD phenotype, its role in early development remains unclear. This PRISMA 2020 systematic review synthesised evidence on associations between early motor activity levels and later ADHD traits or diagnosis, and appraised both methodological quality and conceptual framing within the literature. Searches identified 1,469 records, of which 19 studies met inclusion criteria. Studies assessed motor activity using objective measures (e.g., actigraphy/accelerometry), parent or multi-informant reports, or combined multi-method designs. Across methodologies, heightened or poorly regulated early activity was consistently associated with later ADHD traits and/or diagnosis, with signals detectable from infancy and toddlerhood. Evidence also suggested heterogeneity in early motor profiles: while many studies linked elevated activity to ADHD outcomes, a subset reported associations between motor delays or broader motor atypicalities and later ADHD traits. Multi-informant and multi-modal approaches generally provided the most robust developmental signal. Beyond empirical synthesis, the review identified a predominance of deficit-oriented language and diagnosis-focused endpoints, alongside emerging dimensional and neurodiversity-informed alternatives. Overall, early motor behaviour appears to be a multifaceted, developmentally salient indicator of ADHD propensity. Future research should integrate objective, informant, and genetic data within dimensional frameworks to clarify when, for whom, and through which mechanisms early motor activity relates to the unfolding of attentional, emotional, and cognitive development.

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8. Tian Z, Sun G, Yao J, Duan Y, Huang L. Efficacy and Safety of Qigong Interventions for School-aged Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2026.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Qigong interventions for school-aged children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and assess the strength and limitations of current evidence. METHOD: This systematic review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines and was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261302013). PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP were searched from inception to March 2025. Eligible studies evaluated traditional Qigong practices, such as Baduanjin or Tai Chi, as interventions for school-aged children with ADHD. Randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized controlled studies, and single-arm pre-post studies were included. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment using Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 or Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions. Findings were synthesized narratively because of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Ten studies involving 389 children met inclusion criteria. Interventions lasted 6 to 16 weeks and primarily involved Baduanjin or Tai Chi. Qigong was more consistently associated with reductions in hyperactivity and impulsivity, whereas effects on inattention were variable. Several studies reported improvements in behavioral problems, sensory integration, and adaptive functioning. Effects were generally comparable to structured exercise and showed incremental benefits when combined with standard treatment. No intervention-related adverse events were reported. Evidence was limited by small samples, methodological weaknesses, outcome heterogeneity, and short follow-up. CONCLUSION: Qigong may offer modest benefits for hyperactivity and impulsivity in school-aged children with ADHD without identified safety concerns; however, evidence certainty remains low. Current evidence supports further investigation of Qigong as a complementary, not replacement, intervention. Larger, well-designed randomized trials are required.

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9. Todurga-Seven ZG, Pekkoc-Uyanik KC, Akdemir MF, Bayindir MY, Okuyan AA, Tarakcioglu MC, Ozyazgan S, Uzun H. Role of Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25 Gene in Clinical Response to Methylphenidate Among Turkish Pediatric ADHD Cohort. Children (Basel). 2026; 13(10).

Introduction: Methylphenidate (MPH) is a first-line treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). MPH blocks dopamine and norepinephrine transporters, increasing synaptic catecholamine levels. Neurotransmitter release depends on presynaptic vesicle docking and fusion mediated by synaptosomal-associated protein 25 kDa (SNAP-25), a target-soluble NSF attachment protein receptor (SNARE) protein encoded by the SNAP-25 gene. This study aimed to investigate whether genetic variations in the SNAP-25 gene contribute to variability in clinical response to MPH in pediatric patients with ADHD. Methods: Forty-two children and adolescents aged 6-16 years who presented to the outpatient clinic and were diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-5-TR criteria were prospectively treated with MPH for two months. Clinical response was assessed using the Conners’ Parent Rating Scale (CPRS) and the Turgay DSM-based Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale (T-DSM-IV-S). SNAP-25 exons were sequenced using targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS). Results: Three common variants in SNAP-25 (rs363006, rs362585, and rs362998) were analyzed. Based on CPRS-defined outcomes, a significant association was observed between the rs362998:C > T polymorphism and response to MPH. In the genotypic model, the CT genotype was more frequent among responders (34.78%) than non-responders (5.26%) (p = 0.026, FDR-adjusted p = 0.049). In the dominant model, CT + TT genotypes were more frequent in responders (p = 0.026, FDR-adjusted p = 0.049). The allelic model showed a higher frequency of the T allele in responders (p = 0.036, FDR-adjusted p = 0.049). Haplotype analysis showed that rs362585, rs362998, and rs363006 formed a single haplotype block. The GC haplotype (rs362585-rs362998) was more frequent among non-responders (p = 0.016), while the GCG haplotype showed a similar trend among non-responders, although it did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.058). However, no haplotype association remained statistically significant after FDR correction. A novel 3’UTR variant (c.*54T > C; chr20:10306251T > C) was also identified. Conclusions: These exploratory findings suggest a potential association between SNAP-25 rs362998:C > T and MPH response in pediatric ADHD; however, the small sample size and wide confidence intervals warrant cautious interpretation and validation in larger, independent cohorts.

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