Children’s A.D.D. Drugs Don’t Work Long-Term

Re:Children’s A.D.D. Drugs Don’t Work Long-Term by jstalin on Friday January 18, 2013 @01:23PM (#5080114)

I genuinely wonder how much of these sorts of behavior problems can be traced to external factors such as too much sugar in the diet, lack of exercise, and the over-stimulation (or under, depending how you look at it) of watching hours and hours of TV. I don't want to sound like a luddite curmudgeon, but it seems like so much of the ADD realm is about using drugs to "correct" problems but little attention is paid to other factors. The author of this article does say that socio-economic status plays a part (or at least is correlated), but no mention of diet or activity.

Is anyone aware of any studies of ADD and related conditions that control for these factors?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Children’s A.D.D. Drugs Don’t Work Long-Term by dmix on Friday January 18, 2013 @01:29PM (#5080142)

I recently read a quote about Julian Assange:

> Sometimes he would stand up from his computer and perform a set of twenty or so jumping jacks, explaining to anyone present that short bouts of physical activity served a certain neurobiological function that made stimulant drugs unnecessary.

I would also contend the fact we are now a "knowledge economy" is the reason why its become prevalent.

We have to sit at desks longer and focus on singular tasks. Which is the bane of ADD.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Children’s A.D.D. Drugs Don’t Work Long-Term by ericcumbee on Friday January 18, 2013 @01:37PM (#5080185)

There is also a genetic factor to it as well. 3 of my cousins were all diagnosed with ADD. and one of there children has also struggled with ADD type symptoms.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Children’s A.D.D. Drugs Don’t Work Long-Term by Mz on Friday January 18, 2013 @01:38PM (#5080195)

I have seen such info. Dietary changes and nutritional supplements have a better track record than allopathic drugs. I don't have any links at my fingertips. It has been a few years since I hung out in places where that type thing was regularly discussed. But I know it works. I have two ASD sons and diet makes a big difference for them.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Children’s A.D.D. Drugs Don’t Work Long-Term by illuminate on Friday January 18, 2013 @02:21PM (#5080395)

"Dietary changes and nutritional supplements have a better track record than allopathic drugs. I don't have any links at my fingertips."

There's a reason for that. "My kid has celiac" is the new fad, but the fad doesn't "cure" ADD.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Children’s A.D.D. Drugs Don’t Work Long-Term by Mz on Friday January 18, 2013 @04:04PM (#5081008)

It is more complicated than that. And I did not say it was a "cure".

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Children’s A.D.D. Drugs Don’t Work Long-Term by illuminate on Friday January 18, 2013 @02:18PM (#5080383)

"too much sugar in the diet"

This, at least, is not the case.

http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/sugar-and-candy-...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Children’s A.D.D. Drugs Don’t Work Long-Term by TechNewb on Friday January 18, 2013 @02:24PM (#5080414)

While it may not be too much sugar, it could be too few veggies. I find when I eat cabbage regularly I'm able to focus for longer periods of time. America should reintroduce veggies like cabbage back into their regular diet. Less meat, more veggies.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Children’s A.D.D. Drugs Don’t Work Long-Term by illuminate on Friday January 18, 2013 @04:22PM (#5081121)

Our diets could always be improved, I wasn't endorsing the current state of things so much as responding to the old canard about sugar causing hyperactivity.

[ Parent | on HN ]