Mental Development of Children with ADHD

Researchers are using a new image analysis technique to identify the density of the cortex in the brains of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A National Institutes of Health study found that children with ADHD have thinner areas in the cortex compared to children without the disorder. These cortex areas control thinking, planning, and attention.

The good news is that these children will probably outgrow the behaviors that come with ADHD. The research shows that the brains of children with ADHD mature in a normal progression just at a slower rate. For example, a child who has a healthy brain might achieve maturity in these regions at age 7, while a child with ADHD might not until they recieve age 10.