Posted on Dec 28, 2025
Stimulant ADHD medications work differently than thought | WashU Medicine
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The findings, published Dec. 24 in Cell, suggest that prescription stimulants enhance performance by making individuals with ADHD more alert and interested in tasks, rather than directly improving their ability to focus. The researchers also found that stimulant medications produced patterns of brain activity that mimicked the effect of good sleep, negating the effects of sleep deprivation on brain activity.
“I prescribe a lot of stimulants as a child neurologist, and I’ve always been taught that they facilitate attention systems to give people more voluntary control over what they pay attention to,” said Kay, who treats patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “But we’ve shown that’s not the case. Rather, the improvement we observe in attention is a secondary effect of a child being more alert and finding a task more rewarding, which naturally helps them pay more attention to it.” Kay said the findings point to the importance of addressing inadequate sleep in addition to considering stimulant medication for children being evaluated for ADHD.
“I prescribe a lot of stimulants as a child neurologist, and I’ve always been taught that they facilitate attention systems to give people more voluntary control over what they pay attention to,” said Kay, who treats patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “But we’ve shown that’s not the case. Rather, the improvement we observe in attention is a secondary effect of a child being more alert and finding a task more rewarding, which naturally helps them pay more attention to it.” Kay said the findings point to the importance of addressing inadequate sleep in addition to considering stimulant medication for children being evaluated for ADHD.
Stimulant ADHD medications work differently than thought | WashU Medicine
Posted from medicine.washu.edu
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I always wondered if I took those pills...would I have been smarter...or like my poor son in law...who took them and can't remember any of his grade school years at all. He is still smart, but his memory was kaput for years.
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This confirms what an Israeli study did years ago...many of the children diagnosed as ADHD were sleep deprived and when they were put on a schedule and got adequate sleep, their symptoms disappeared.
Hubby and I were amazed at how many elementary school children we saw in the supermarket at 10PM; all of our kids would be fast asleep at that time when they were still in school except for the HS crew...
Hubby and I were amazed at how many elementary school children we saw in the supermarket at 10PM; all of our kids would be fast asleep at that time when they were still in school except for the HS crew...
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Lt Col Charlie Brown
Israeli study on adhd and sleep
The Israeli study by the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology's Sleep Medicine Center found that children with ADHD had significantly higher levels of sleepiness during the day than those in a control group. This suggests that ADHD-diagnosed children might be suffering from sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea or other sleep problems, which could be causing their daytime behavior. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing sleep issues before prescribing stimulant medications like Ritalin for ADHD treatment.
The Israeli study by the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology's Sleep Medicine Center found that children with ADHD had significantly higher levels of sleepiness during the day than those in a control group. This suggests that ADHD-diagnosed children might be suffering from sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea or other sleep problems, which could be causing their daytime behavior. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing sleep issues before prescribing stimulant medications like Ritalin for ADHD treatment.
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SGT Kevin Hughes
Yeah, one of my buddies is a Sports Medicine Guru, and he says teaching Athletes to Sleep is a big hurdle, until they see the effect it has on both their skills, and their recovery! Sleep is highly underrated and undervalued.
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MAJ Byron Oyler
ADHD meds also limit a variety of activities such as flying and military service. I was in grade school in the 80s where discipline was used as it was seen as a discipline problem and as an adult with my RN license (ICU and ER board certified), paramedic license, private pilot, and working on my airplane mechanic cert, it can be a gift. I don't comment here to attack you and your daughter but more to put out important information regarding the meds and the capabilities of those with ADHD. I personally feel ADHD, Aspergers, and autism having similar skill sets, autism not being understood yet to maximize on their skill set.
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LTC Trent Klug
MAJ Byron Oyler So two things. Not only does our daughter have ADHD, she also has Asperger's.
We went several years trying everything under the sun in order to keep her off medication to get her under control. Nothing worked except Adderall.
As far as the autism, she had a very bad reaction to a HIB vaccination (106 temp) and was a different toddler after that. I firmly believe she was vaccine injured and the Asperger's was caused by the shot.
Can I prove it? No, but given that nothing else was given to her after that for a great while, I have to believe the reaction caused the condition.
We went several years trying everything under the sun in order to keep her off medication to get her under control. Nothing worked except Adderall.
As far as the autism, she had a very bad reaction to a HIB vaccination (106 temp) and was a different toddler after that. I firmly believe she was vaccine injured and the Asperger's was caused by the shot.
Can I prove it? No, but given that nothing else was given to her after that for a great while, I have to believe the reaction caused the condition.
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SGT Kevin Hughes
MAJ Byron Oyler - I was formally diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum at 63, the second oldest to be Formally diagnosed in NC ...and what a trip that was. I am what used to be called Asperger's as you both have alluded too...and yes ADHD. I used to joke that I got straight A's. Autism, ADHD, and Asthma.
Since I was much older than most folks when I found out...I was able to understand its impact on my life a bit better. And to prove to the younger ones...you will have a life!
Nothing much was known about High Functioning types when I was born in 1951...but the Nuns at School called me: "The little Professor." Only to find out in my late sixties, that was what they called Asperger Types in the early literature.
I never quite fit. That part hasn't changed. I am glad I am me, but I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
Since I was much older than most folks when I found out...I was able to understand its impact on my life a bit better. And to prove to the younger ones...you will have a life!
Nothing much was known about High Functioning types when I was born in 1951...but the Nuns at School called me: "The little Professor." Only to find out in my late sixties, that was what they called Asperger Types in the early literature.
I never quite fit. That part hasn't changed. I am glad I am me, but I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
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