An estimated 4 percent of all adult Americans have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to the National Resource Center on ADHD. Studies of caffeine's effect on ADHD have not yet produced an exact caffeine dosage for ADHD, so if you or a loved one have ADHD, you must work with your doctor to establish a dosage through personal experimentation.
Discovery of ADHD
ADHD symptoms were first described in an organized manner by British doctor Sir Alexander Crichton in a book published in 1798. Dr. Crichton observed that some patients had an "unnatural degree of mental restlessness," so that small changes in the temperature or lighting of their rooms or nearby noises such as dogs barking or a door shutting could completely distract them from tasks.
ADHD Causes, Symptoms
Twentieth century scientists gradually deduced that ADHD is caused by genetics in some families, usually passing from parent to child, and can also be caused by external trauma, such as alcohol and tobacco use by the child's mother during pregnancy, or a head injury or exposure to lead after birth. ADHD alters the neural wiring of the brain in ways not yet fully understood. The results of the ADHD brain pattern are a triad of symptoms usually called inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity.
ADHD Caffeine Studies
Researchers have conducted studies to determine if caffeine would be a good treatment for ADHD since the mid-1970s. Scientists initially dropped caffeine research after learning that amphetamines and antidepressants were more effective than caffeine. However, caffeine research is returning to favor again, because some patients balk at taking amphetamines and antidepressants due to drug side effects and the current medications' association with addiction and social stigma. Since caffeine is a natural stimulant, found in drinks and foods such as coffee, tea and chocolate, scientists hope that these ADHD patients will be more cooperative with a caffeine regimen.
A 2010 report by a researcher at the Pontifical Catholic University of Porto Alegre, Brazil and a 2011 report by a team of researchers at West China Hospital in Chengdu, China both urge their colleagues to restart studies of caffeine treatment for ADHD patients. The West China Hospital team noted the "poor treatment compliance" of ADHD patients with other medications and stated bluntly, "Tea is a kind of stimulant and many adults like to drink it."
Your Caffeine Dosage
Because scientists have not yet determined the best caffeine dosage for ADHD patients, you will have to work with your physician to figure out the best dosage for your ADHD symptoms. Your doctor will also need to determine if caffeine would have negative interactions with any other medications that you are currently taking or other medical problems that you may have.
If your physician approves of your proposed test of caffeine, you may wish to create a daily diary on your computer or cell phone, noting each time that you ingest a food that contains caffeine, and how it affected your ADHD symptoms. Your physician can use these daily records to determine if you should use caffeine regularly to control your ADHD symptoms.
References
- "An Inquiry Into the Nature and Origin of Mental Derangement"; Sir Alexander Crichton, M.D.; 1798
- National Resource Center on ADHD: About AD/HD -- Statistical Prevalence
- Centers for Disease Control: Facts About ADHD
- "Journal of Alzheimer's Disease"; Caffeine, Mental Health, and Psychiatric Disorders; D.R. Lara; 2010
- "Medical Hypotheses"; Tea Consumption ... For Adult Atttention Deficit ..."; K. Liu, et al.; April 2011
- National Institute of Mental Health: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
