Danielle Elliott

To develop treatments that help with hormones and ADHD, we need to understand the underlying science. For decades, it wasn't studied. Scientists focused on kids and teens with ADHD, primarily boys with ADHD. Technically, Ashley focused on adolescents, but because she studied hormones, her results can tell us about ADHD at different life stages.

Her results show that, quote, She determined that in the two points in the menstrual cycle when estrogen decreases, that's where ADHD symptoms are worse. These results line up with those of other studies at the Risk Lab, including the long-term study that Ashley's mentor, Dr. Martel, is working on.

Her results show that, quote, She determined that in the two points in the menstrual cycle when estrogen decreases, that's where ADHD symptoms are worse. These results line up with those of other studies at the Risk Lab, including the long-term study that Ashley's mentor, Dr. Martel, is working on.

This aligns with what women and clinicians have long reported. But as far as scientific research, it's groundbreaking. Ashley told me the overall goal of her research is threefold. First, to understand hormones and ADHD. Next, to personalize treatments.

This aligns with what women and clinicians have long reported. But as far as scientific research, it's groundbreaking. Ashley told me the overall goal of her research is threefold. First, to understand hormones and ADHD. Next, to personalize treatments.

She said that in the future, this could mean psychiatrists or doctors titrate ADHD medications throughout a woman's menstrual cycle so that on days when symptoms are worse, they take a higher dose of medication. Another possibility is prescribing hormone-based medication, like birth control, to treat ADHD.

She said that in the future, this could mean psychiatrists or doctors titrate ADHD medications throughout a woman's menstrual cycle so that on days when symptoms are worse, they take a higher dose of medication. Another possibility is prescribing hormone-based medication, like birth control, to treat ADHD.

She emphasized that this is theoretical, and these approaches have not yet been studied or tested. If treatments are developed, they won't be a one-size-fits-all solution.

She emphasized that this is theoretical, and these approaches have not yet been studied or tested. If treatments are developed, they won't be a one-size-fits-all solution.

will also need research into different types of birth control. She mentioned a recent study completed at Uppsala University in Sweden, which found that women with ADHD who are taking hormone-based birth control pills are five times more likely to experience depression than women who do not have ADHD or than women with ADHD who use other forms of birth control.

will also need research into different types of birth control. She mentioned a recent study completed at Uppsala University in Sweden, which found that women with ADHD who are taking hormone-based birth control pills are five times more likely to experience depression than women who do not have ADHD or than women with ADHD who use other forms of birth control.

It seems like everything makes the case for we need more research.

It seems like everything makes the case for we need more research.

And even when research is done, it takes a long time to develop new treatments. The process of getting research from the lab to the people it impacts, known as bench-to-bedside, takes an average of 17 years. I asked her what we can hope for. What would progress look like 15 years from now?

And even when research is done, it takes a long time to develop new treatments. The process of getting research from the lab to the people it impacts, known as bench-to-bedside, takes an average of 17 years. I asked her what we can hope for. What would progress look like 15 years from now?

It's possible that this will move faster because we don't need to discover and test new medications. Rather, we need to figure out how to better use the existing ones. An increase in attention on this subject might also help. Ashley told me she gets a lot of emails from young researchers who are interested in studying hormones and ADHD.

It's possible that this will move faster because we don't need to discover and test new medications. Rather, we need to figure out how to better use the existing ones. An increase in attention on this subject might also help. Ashley told me she gets a lot of emails from young researchers who are interested in studying hormones and ADHD.

And that gives her hope that research will push forward, so long as it gets funded. The third goal of Ashley's work is to improve the assessment process. And as we started talking about that goal, I realized her work sheds light on one of my main questions. Is it possible to develop ADHD later in life?

And that gives her hope that research will push forward, so long as it gets funded. The third goal of Ashley's work is to improve the assessment process. And as we started talking about that goal, I realized her work sheds light on one of my main questions. Is it possible to develop ADHD later in life?

Her study indicates that hormonal changes can create different levels of impairment in different women. This stuff is complicated, but to me, at least, this suggests that some women only begin to really struggle with ADHD as they get older. The DSM currently says that symptoms must develop by the age of 12.