Chris Casarez / Biology / Faculty Mentor: Piya Ghose
As one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often characterized by persistent inability to focus, increased restlessness and behavioral impulsivity, all of which can impede in daily functioning. Although the true cause of ADHD is unknown, it has long been attributed to genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Additionally, ADHD patients have often been found to have sub-optimal norepinephrine and dopamine levels in their pre-frontal cortex, which contributes to the symptoms of ADHD such as reduced executive function. To treat ADHD, physicians often prescribe methylphenidate (MPH), commercially known as Ritalin, which acts as a dopamine re-uptake inhibitor by targeting the dopamine transporter protein (DAT) on pre-synaptic neurons of the pre-frontal cortex. Based on current literature, MPH has been found to be an effective treatment for ADHD in both adult mouse models and humans at varying doses, however, a knowledge gap exists concerning the long-term effects of MPH on juvenile brain development which this literature-based study aims to address. With a greater understanding of the effects of MPH on adolescent brain development, improved clinical drug treatments can be achieved in the future to improve the quality of life for young patients living with ADHD.
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