Stimulant Treatments Oygenate The Adhd Brain-00-3859

By Author: Tess Messer
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Most parents and patients who take ADHD stimulants worry about their long term use of these medications. New studies point to the fact that these medicines may, in fact, be good for the ADHD brain.

The stimulants improve brain oxygenation and decrease the injury caused by oxygen free radicals in the brain. There is some evidence to suggest that children who take stimulants to treat their ADD symptoms perform better in school and later in their schooling than kids who are not treated with stimulants. The long duration affects of stimulant utilizationwith regards to future life outcome measures (such as being gainfully employed as adults, succeeding in college, etc) has not been studied extensively.

There are no long term studies comparing stimulant treatment to other forms of treatment such as behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, supplement therapy, or other interventions but there are at least a few research studies that have looked at children over a 10 year period and report that the children that were treated with stimulant therapy achieved better academic results, later in life, than the kids ...
... that never received treatment.

The likely scientific reason for the betterment in this academic success in youngsters who have been treated with stimulants relates to the stimulant's ability to improve the brain's use of oxygen. ADD Medication act to reduce the oxidative stress on the brain. several psychiatric and neurological illnesses including schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease have been associated with unfavorable levels of brain oxygen free radicals. It is thought that these oxygen free radicals cause brain DNA damage that, in turn, causes psychiatric and neurological symptoms.

A study published recently in the Journal of Neural Transmission found that Strattera, the Ritalin (methyphenidate) and the Adderall (amphetamine) family of medications, in the laboratory, can act to significantly decrease an enzyme that indicates high Brain DNA oxidative stress. The authors report that Ritalin, Adderall and Strattera help Attention Deficit Disorder, at least in part, by decreasing free radical damage to the brain's DNA.

Having a biological basis for the improved outcome seen in people treated, long term, with Attention Deficit Disorder medication is very important. Many parents and patients, concerned regarding the long term harm that might result from being treated with ADD medications, may be surprised by these findings as this new information points to just the opposite conclusion, that there may be long duration benefits from Attention Deficit Disorder medication treatment.

As there are no comparison studies, we do not know if other treatment also decrease the brain's oxidative stress and improve later outcomes for Attention Deficit Disorder. treatment with flavanoids such as Quercetin and Resveratrol have been also shown to decrease oxidative stress in the brain. Other anti-oxidants that have been shown in researh studies to improve brain function include coenzyme Q10, Ginseng, Ginko-Biloba and dark skinned berries such as cherries and blueberries.

Vitamins may act as anti-oxidants as well. Vitamins C and E, the B vitamins, the Omega-3 fatty acids and zinc have been found to increase cognitive functioning and this may be partly the result of the vitamin's anti-oxidant action. Iron is necessary for proper brain functioning and is an very important component of healthy oxygen levels in the brain and has been strongly associated with improved cognitive function in people with ADD.

Supplements such a phosphatidylserine, lemon balm, Bacopa monnieri and vinpocetine may all improve cognitive function and may all do so by improving brain oxygenation and by directly or indirectly decreasing the oxygen free radical brain insult.

Stimulants may help the long duration outcome of people with Attention Deficit Disorder by decreasing oxygen free radical injury to the brain's DNA. Other treatment may also help but have yet to be studied. Further research study on the outcome of ADD using various treatment measures is necessary to fully evaluate the risks and enrichments of long duration stimulant use for ADD.

About the Author:

Tess Messer is a Physician Assistant expert on Inattentive ADD. For your a free Inattentive ADHD tools, visit: