The Trajectory of ADHD Across the Lifespan

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a complex and highly prevalent neurodevelopmental condition. Historically, ADHD research and clinical practice have been heavily skewed toward childhood and early adolescence. However, contemporary evidence unequivocally demonstrates that ADHD is a lifespan condition. Its presentation, functional impact, and associated challenges evolve continuously from early childhood into adulthood, and increasingly, into older age.Despite this recognition, significant gaps remain in our understanding of ADHD across different developmental stages. The clinical presentation is highly heterogeneous and age-dependent; the overt hyperactivity often seen in children may transition into internal restlessness or profound executive dysfunction in adults. Furthermore, the landscape of psychiatric and medical comorbidities—ranging from learning disabilities and disruptive behaviors in youth to mood disorders, anxiety, substance use, and metabolic issues in adults—shifts dramatically over the lifespan.The primary goal of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive, lifespan perspective on ADHD by bringing together cutting-edge research from across the age spectrum. By welcoming studies focused on children, adolescents, adults, and older adults, we aim to build a cohesive collection that highlights how ADHD manifests, impacts daily functioning, and responds to treatment at every stage of life.We welcome a broad range of submissions, including Original Research, Systematic Reviews, Clinical Trials, and Perspectives. We encourage researchers from diverse disciplines (clinical psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience, genetics, and epidemiology) to contribute.Themes of interest include, but are not limited to:Clinical presentation, symptomatology, and diagnostic challenges of ADHD in specific age groups (childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and older age).Longitudinal trajectories and the continuity of ADHD from childhood into adulthood.Neurobiological, cognitive, and genetic underpinnings of ADHD across the lifespan.The evolution of psychiatric and somatic comorbidities at different life stages.Age-specific adaptations and efficacy of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions (e.g., CBT, psychosocial coaching, neuromodulation).The psychosocial impact of ADHD on education, employment, interpersonal relationships, and overall quality of life across the lifespan.Gender differences in the developmental trajectory, presentation, and diagnosis of ADHD at various ages. Topic editors: Hakan Öğütlü, Miraç Barış Usta, Meryem Kaşak, Fiona Mcnicholas Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79306/the-trajectory-of-adhd-across-the-lifespan