Assessment of Probiotics (Lactobacillus) Supplementation in the Management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Abstract

Psychiatric disorders are already ranked among the leading causes of disability in industrialized countries. With the current progressive increase in the incidence, they may be expected to assume the first place also globally within the next few years. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, and affects three to seven percent of children worldwide. Moreover, symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity are frequent in children with Asperger syndrome (AS), which is characterized by stereotyped behavior and deficient social interaction and communication skills. Besides the common behavioral features, shared biological pathways and neuroanatomical links between these diseases have been reported.