Childhood Sleep Disorders Linked to Higher Risk of ADHD Symptoms: Study

An investigation by researchers from the Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry at the University of Valencia showed the close relationship between childhood sleep disorders and the development of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in preadolescence.

The study, published in the European Journal of Pediatrics, represented important progress in understanding the causes of ADHD, a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting around 7.5% of children.

Sleep is a complex physiological state, partly responsible for physical and mental performance. Disorders affecting it have immediate and far-reaching consequences.

Sleep disorders in children can lead to symptoms of ADHD, such as trouble paying attention and being overly active. Poor sleep affects the brain's ability to function properly, making it harder for children to concentrate and control their impulses. Over time, this can result in behaviors that are similar to those seen in ADHD, like difficulty focusing, restlessness, and hyperactivity.

Several studies have previously shown that sleep disorders and ADHD are common during childhood, with a prevalence of 20% for sleep disorders and 3-7.5% for ADHD. Sleep disorders are more prevalent in children with ADHD, affecting between 25% and 73.3% of them.

For the study, the research team worked with 1,244 boys and girls, more specifically, the cohorts participating in the INMA project. On the one hand, they assessed sleep disorders at the age of 8 or 9 using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for ages 6-18, and, on the other, they examined manifestations of ADHD using the Conners Parent Rating Scale (CPRS-R:S).

The researchers established a strong relationship between sleep disorders at the ages of 8 and 9 and the development of ADHD symptoms at the ages of 10 and 11.

The association between sleep disorders and ADHD symptoms was maintained after excluding from the initial analysis children who had shown previous clinical problems (for example, those born small for their gestational age, premature babies, and those who had symptoms compatible with an ADHD diagnosis either before and at the same time as the appearance of sleep disorders). This highlighted the strength of the association between sleep disorders and ADHD.

Reference: González-Safont, L., Rebagliato, M., Arregi, A. et al. Sleep problems at ages 8–9 and ADHD symptoms at ages 10–11: evidence in three cohorts from INMA study. Eur J Pediatr (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-023-05145-3