Here I explore the relationship of caffeine use and ADHD to answer three questions. First, is ADHD associated with caffeine use? The answer seems to be yes from studies of teens and adults, especially those having ADHD. The more symptoms of ADHD, the greater the use of caffeinated beverages, especially when severity of ADHD rises to that of a clinical disorder.
Second, does caffeine benefit children or adults with ADHD. After all, caffeine is known increase levels of dopamine in the brain, among other neurotransmitters. But it also increases adrenaline, which explains the increase in symptoms anxiety with increasing use of the substance. The answer to the second question is “maybe” for adults, but no for children. The problem with determining if caffeine helps adults with ADHD is that there is little if any research comparing caffeine against a placebo in adults with ADHD to answer that question. There is suggestive evidence that increasing use of caffeine may decrease level of ADHD symptoms but such findings are only suggestive of a positive benefit and of self-medication with caffeine among those with higher levels of ADHD symptoms or the clinical disorder.
The third question is does caffeine use by mothers during pregnancy increase risk for ADHD in offspring. The answer from a meta-analysis of the research is no.
References
Agoston, C. et al. (2022), Self-medication of ADHD symptoms: Does caffeine have a role? Frontiers in Psychiatry. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.813545/full
Marmorstein, N. (2016). Energy drink and coffee consumption and psychopathology symptoms among early adolescents. Journal of Caffeine Research. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jcr.2015.0018
Cipolione, G. et al. (2020). Exploring the role of caffeine use in adult-ADHD symptom severity of US Army soldiers. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(11). https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/11/3788
Perotte, G. et al. (2023). Effects of caffeine on main symptoms in children with ADHD: A systemative review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Brain Sciences, 13(9). https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/9/1304
Haan, E. et al. (2022). Prenatal smoking, alcohol and caffeine exposure and offspring externalizing disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Addiction, 117(10). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/add.15858
Second, does caffeine benefit children or adults with ADHD. After all, caffeine is known increase levels of dopamine in the brain, among other neurotransmitters. But it also increases adrenaline, which explains the increase in symptoms anxiety with increasing use of the substance. The answer to the second question is “maybe” for adults, but no for children. The problem with determining if caffeine helps adults with ADHD is that there is little if any research comparing caffeine against a placebo in adults with ADHD to answer that question. There is suggestive evidence that increasing use of caffeine may decrease level of ADHD symptoms but such findings are only suggestive of a positive benefit and of self-medication with caffeine among those with higher levels of ADHD symptoms or the clinical disorder.
The third question is does caffeine use by mothers during pregnancy increase risk for ADHD in offspring. The answer from a meta-analysis of the research is no.
References
Agoston, C. et al. (2022), Self-medication of ADHD symptoms: Does caffeine have a role? Frontiers in Psychiatry. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.813545/full
Marmorstein, N. (2016). Energy drink and coffee consumption and psychopathology symptoms among early adolescents. Journal of Caffeine Research. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jcr.2015.0018
Cipolione, G. et al. (2020). Exploring the role of caffeine use in adult-ADHD symptom severity of US Army soldiers. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(11). https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/11/3788
Perotte, G. et al. (2023). Effects of caffeine on main symptoms in children with ADHD: A systemative review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Brain Sciences, 13(9). https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/9/1304
Haan, E. et al. (2022). Prenatal smoking, alcohol and caffeine exposure and offspring externalizing disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Addiction, 117(10). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/add.15858
