“He juggles and swings, he traipses and fidgets…”. Heinrich Hoffmann, himself a neurologist, described the fidgety Philipp more aptly than almost anyone else. At that time, he probably did not know the medical term attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity. Only a few of those affected know that this complex disorder does not always “grow out of control”, but also affects numerous adults. ADHD in adults, however, is less common.
ADHD: a wide variety of variations
They are people who seem to be constantly on edge, they are the impatient ones when waiting in line, the ones who are often late, the ones who cut into everyone’s word and are always starting new projects and not finishing everything. But they are also the very same ones who find ingenious solutions with their inexhaustible energy and creativity, they are often popular, sensitive and helpful, have a great talent for “multitasking” and improvisation. Albert Einstein and Bill Gates are two prominent examples.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) occurs in very different variations, but decreased attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are its core symptoms. It is thought to be caused by impaired information processing in specific brain regions, primarily affecting dopamine metabolism. Like norepinephrine, dopamine is a messenger substance (transmitter). The exchange of information between nerve cells (neurons) is controlled by transmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine.
According to information provided by Professor Michael Schulte-Markwort of the Eppendorf University Hospital in the Ärztezeitung, however, the activity of the neurons is greatly reduced in ADHD patients, which suggests a transmitter deficit. If there is a lack of dopamine, for example, activities of the nervous system that regulate feelings and behavior can be controlled more poorly.
ADHD in adulthood
As reported by the University of Lübeck, five percent of all children are affected by hyperactivity. Scientists estimate that there is a child with ADHD in every school class. Just a few years ago, ADHD was only considered a disorder in childhood and adolescence. Only recently has it become known that ADHD symptoms can persist into adulthood.
Currently, ADHD in adulthood is being intensively studied in science: namely, two to five percent of adults are also affected. It is now known that in about half of affected children the disorder does not stop at age 18, but that the symptoms change and continue into adulthood.
It is now also known that ADHD can be inherited: If a family member has been diagnosed with ADHD, the risk for biological children to also have ADHD is increased fivefold. In childhood, boys are three times more likely than girls to be affected by “fidgety-philippe syndrome”; for adults, there are no more precise statements yet regarding the gender distribution of ADHD.
