Does Breastfeeding Reduce the Risk of Developing ADHD?

Introduction:

For the majority of newborns, breastfeeding is the best source of nourishment. It can also lower the possibility that mothers and babies have certain medical issues. ADHD is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental illnesses that affects children. Researchers discovered that children with ADHD had lower breastfeeding rates than children without the diagnosis. Additionally, the risk was decreased the longer the child was breastfed. The studies took into account additional elements that might influence the disorder's onset, such as parental education levels, marital status, pregnancy complications, a child's birth weight, and potential genetic links to ADHD. Still, these elements did not affect the results, underscoring the significance of breastfeeding.

What Is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent mental illnesses affecting children. The symptoms of ADHD include:

• Inattention (inability to maintain concentration).

• Hyperactivity (excessive movement that is inappropriate for the situation).

• Impulsivity (rash, unplanned actions).

The effects of ADHD are known to affect a person in many areas of their life, including academic and professional success, interpersonal connections, and daily functioning. ADHD is regarded as a chronic and disabling illness. When left untreated, ADHD in kids can result in low self-esteem and poor social skills. Adults with ADHD may have low self-esteem, sensitivity to criticism, and increased self-criticism, potentially resulting from receiving more criticism overall.

What Are the Symptoms of ADHD in Children?

Children with ADHD majorly present with the following symptoms:

• Inattention: It is characterized by problems with organization, focus, and staying on a task unrelated to defiance or a lack of understanding.

• Hyperactivity: It means a person may seem to move about constantly, including in situations when it is not appropriate or excessively fidgets, taps, or talks. In adults, hyperactivity may mean extreme restlessness or talking too much.

• Impulsivity: It means a person may act without thinking or have difficulty with self-control. Impulsivity could also include a desire for immediate rewards or the inability to delay gratification. An impulsive person may interrupt others or make important decisions without considering long-term consequences.

What Are the Causes of ADHD?

Scientists have not yet determined the exact causes of ADHD. Despite the growing evidence that genetics play a role in ADHD and the association of numerous genes with the condition, no one gene or set of genes has been identified as the disorder's underlying cause. It's crucial to remember that families of those with ADHD frequently experience the same issues. There is proof that the brains of children with ADHD are anatomically different from those without the disorder. For instance, children with ADHD exhibit varied brain area activation during specific tasks and have lower gray and white brain matter volume.

More research has revealed that ADHD is associated with changes in the brain's frontal lobes, caudate nucleus, and cerebellar vermis. Low birth weight, early birth, exposure to toxins (alcohol, smoking, lead, etc.) during pregnancy, and high stress during pregnancy are among non-genetic variables that have also been related to the illness.

According to research, dopamine deficiency may contribute to ADHD. A substance called dopamine helps transmit signals from one nerve to another in the brain. It contributes to the onset of emotional reactions and motions.

How Does Breastfeeding Reduce the Risk of ADHD?

Few facts support the various theories explaining why breastfeeding protects against ADHD. Breastfeeding could establish a specific link between mother and child that aids in preventing the emergence of behavioral disorders, or there may be an element in the breast milk itself (such as a rich combination of fatty acids) that promotes normal brain development.

ADHD can develop for various reasons other than breastfeeding, and many breastfed children will eventually be diagnosed with the condition. Family relationships, upbringing, and household dynamics all play a part in cognitive development, in addition to environmental and genetic influences. To assert that breastfeeding protects ADHD or does not cause ADHD is not supported by sufficient research.

Researchers found that breastfeeding duration was inversely correlated with a child's probability of developing ADHD. In other words, the chance that a child would be diagnosed with ADHD later in life decreased the longer the child was breastfed. Extended breastfeeding does not provide the nutritional advantages of infancy-only breastfeeding. Still, the relationship it preserves between mother and child is certainly beneficial to a child's emotional, behavioral, and cognitive development.

How Is ADHD Treated in Children?

The treatment of ADHD in most cases is counseling and medication. The suggested first-line approach for preschoolers and younger kids comprise behavioral tactics in home management training and school intervention. An evidence-based treatment approach for young children with ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder is parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT).

Amphetamines and Methylphenidate are the first-line pharmacological therapy for the management of ADHD, according to current recommendations. Amphetamines are the only FDA-approved treatment for ADHD in children, although guidelines suggest that Methylphenidate may be more effective in some cases if behavioral therapies are unsuccessful. The other FDA-approved medications for treating ADHD are the alpha agonists (clonidine and guanfacine) and the selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, atomoxetine. The FDA has recently approved several newer drugs for the treatment of ADHD, such as:

• Methylphenidate extended-release to be taken at night.

• Dextroamphetamine, an Amphetamine patch.

• Viloxazine, a non-stimulant.

• Methylphenidate hydrochloride.

• Amphetamine extended-release oral suspension.

Depending on the treatment's effectiveness and the medicine's acceptability, many children and families might change between different medication options. The treatment's objective is to reduce symptoms to restore functioning at home and school.

Conclusion:

All infants are advised to be breastfed. For children, it gives the best defense against illnesses and a variety of health issues, and it has many advantages for mothers as well. Recent studies discovered an association between breastfeeding and the development of ADHD. Children who were breastfed were found to have lesser chances of developing ADHD than children who were not breastfed. Hence, many health organizations recommend mothers to breastfeed their newborns and infants to prevent ADHD and other behavioral diseases.