Impact of Caffeine on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is now one of the most common children’s mental health conditions. It involves symptoms of inattention or impulsivity and hyperactivity that lead to behavioral impairments. Approximately (50) percent of children diagnosed with ADHD continue to show clinically significant symptoms and impairment as adult. ADHD is not a single pathophysiological entity and appears to have a complex etiology. Multiple genetic and environmental factors act together to create a spectrum of neurobiological liability. Treatment of ADHD includes pharmacological and psychosocial intervention. Treatment interventions are determined by the age of the child and level of severity of the condition. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, and chocolate and it’s one of the world’s favorite drugs. The right amount of caffeine can help to focus, but too much might make the person jittery, anxious, or irritable. Caffeine, or more properly, 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine and quickly absorbed once consumed and it immediately gets to work stimulating neurotransmitter release. Caffeine is considered a stimulant. It stimulates the body’s central nervous system and boosts the brain’s production of a neurochemical known as dopamine, which controls the ability to focus and maintain concentration. This stimulation can cause a person to feel energized and not to feel the effects of fatigue as strongly.