Danielle Elliott

We're going to hear what treatment might look like in the future, if, and that's a big if, if scientists and the agencies that fund scientific research choose to prioritize the needs of adult women with ADHD. This is Climbing the Walls, a podcast where I try to figure out why so many women are being diagnosed with ADHD. I'm Danielle Elliott. Let's go back in time just a little bit.

We're going to hear what treatment might look like in the future, if, and that's a big if, if scientists and the agencies that fund scientific research choose to prioritize the needs of adult women with ADHD. This is Climbing the Walls, a podcast where I try to figure out why so many women are being diagnosed with ADHD. I'm Danielle Elliott. Let's go back in time just a little bit.

For most of medical history, clinical research operated under the false assumption that if you study men, the findings will pertain to women. In 1986, the NIH issued a new policy encouraging scientists to include women in research studies. Things started to change in 1991, when a woman named Bernadine Healy became the first female NIH director.

For most of medical history, clinical research operated under the false assumption that if you study men, the findings will pertain to women. In 1986, the NIH issued a new policy encouraging scientists to include women in research studies. Things started to change in 1991, when a woman named Bernadine Healy became the first female NIH director.

Two weeks into her tenure, Dr. Healy launched the Women's Health Initiative. Over the next 15 years, the initiative enrolled more than 150,000 postmenopausal women in clinical trials. The initiative is the reason we know about long-term risks associated with hormone replacement therapies, especially when used by postmenopausal women.

Two weeks into her tenure, Dr. Healy launched the Women's Health Initiative. Over the next 15 years, the initiative enrolled more than 150,000 postmenopausal women in clinical trials. The initiative is the reason we know about long-term risks associated with hormone replacement therapies, especially when used by postmenopausal women.

Still, the NIH policy recommendation didn't spread far and wide. Women, with all our pesky hormones, were just too difficult to study. Widespread change only started in 1993, when Congress passed a federal law requiring that women be included in clinical research. 1993. 30 years later, I struggled to find researchers who are focusing on ADHD and hormones.

Still, the NIH policy recommendation didn't spread far and wide. Women, with all our pesky hormones, were just too difficult to study. Widespread change only started in 1993, when Congress passed a federal law requiring that women be included in clinical research. 1993. 30 years later, I struggled to find researchers who are focusing on ADHD and hormones.

I found studies showing that estrogen helps distribute important neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin throughout the brain so that they can help with things like cognition and mood. When estrogen decreases and progesterone rises, it impacts brain function. The studies on estrogen and progesterone are helpful, but none of these studies are specifically about ADHD brains.

I found studies showing that estrogen helps distribute important neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin throughout the brain so that they can help with things like cognition and mood. When estrogen decreases and progesterone rises, it impacts brain function. The studies on estrogen and progesterone are helpful, but none of these studies are specifically about ADHD brains.

And if we have any hope of developing better treatments for ADHD, we need to know how this science specifically applies to ADHD brains, which, by the way, already have a hard time circulating these neurotransmitters, even on a good day. So how do these hormonal fluctuations impact ADHD brains? I looked for experts in this.

And if we have any hope of developing better treatments for ADHD, we need to know how this science specifically applies to ADHD brains, which, by the way, already have a hard time circulating these neurotransmitters, even on a good day. So how do these hormonal fluctuations impact ADHD brains? I looked for experts in this.

There are several ADHD coaches and clinicians who specialize in supporting women during different life stages. But scientists who study ADHD at these stages? I struggled to find any. I wondered if I just wasn't looking hard enough. Then, in February 2024, a new study led me to potential answers.

There are several ADHD coaches and clinicians who specialize in supporting women during different life stages. But scientists who study ADHD at these stages? I struggled to find any. I wondered if I just wasn't looking hard enough. Then, in February 2024, a new study led me to potential answers.

This is Ashley Ang, the lead researcher on the February 2024 paper.

This is Ashley Ang, the lead researcher on the February 2024 paper.

Ashley learned that this was not a unique situation. It seemed to occur with other kids around the same age.

Ashley learned that this was not a unique situation. It seemed to occur with other kids around the same age.

Ashley chose the RISC lab at the University of Kentucky under the guidance of Dr. Michelle Martel. Dr. Martel was in the midst of an NIH-funded study examining ADHD symptoms across the menstrual cycles of young women with ADHD.

Ashley chose the RISC lab at the University of Kentucky under the guidance of Dr. Michelle Martel. Dr. Martel was in the midst of an NIH-funded study examining ADHD symptoms across the menstrual cycles of young women with ADHD.