#Adhd

A global wave of personal stories and overlooked medical realities is highlighting persistent gaps in women’s health knowledge and care. Viral conversations show how much remains misunderstood—even among informed adults. In Thailand, discussions around research bias, overlooked symptoms, and unspoken health risks demand clearer guidance rooted in science.

Many Thai women, like their global peers, may not realize how female-specific diseases are under-researched or why doctors may misinterpret symptoms unique to women. The spotlight on misinformation and data gaps matters for safety and care quality across the country, helping explain the ongoing gender health gap in Thai health systems and universities.

A groundswell of personal accounts and overlooked medical realities is putting the spotlight on persistent gaps in women’s health knowledge and care, with recent viral revelations demonstrating just how much remains misunderstood—even among well-informed adults. Social media conversations, like those following a campaign by a non-hormonal birth control brand, have triggered profound “wait, what?” moments about topics such as research bias, overlooked symptoms, and unspoken health risks that urgently demand more public attention and scientific scrutiny (BuzzFeed).

A growing body of scientific research is turning conventional wisdom about chronic lateness on its head: for many, persistent tardiness is not merely a matter of laziness or poor manners but a symptom of an underlying mental health condition known as “time blindness.” The latest analyses from psychiatrists and neuroscientists suggest that time blindness—while not formally categorized in leading diagnostic manuals such as the DSM-5—is a pervasive issue, disrupting lives, careers, and relationships worldwide, including here in Thailand.

A large Danish study finds no increased risk of autism, ADHD, or other chronic neurological, autoimmune, or allergic conditions from aluminum in vaccines. Researchers analyzed health records of more than 1.2 million children born between 1997 and 2018, following them for up to eight years and examining fifty conditions. The findings provide solid reassurance to Thai families amid ongoing concerns about vaccines.

Aluminum salts act as adjuvants, helping vaccines provoke a stronger immune response. This practice has been in use for more than nine decades. While rumours circulate online, global science has not supported a causal link between aluminum exposure in vaccines and neurodevelopmental or immune-related disorders.

A sweeping new study out of Denmark has concluded that exposure to aluminum in early childhood vaccines does not increase the risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or other chronic neurological, autoimmune, or allergic conditions. This research, covering more than 1.2 million children, comes at a crucial time of persistent vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, offering robust scientific reassurances that routine childhood immunisations are safe and not a source of neurological or immune harm.

Time blindness is gaining recognition as a genuine cognitive difference that affects everyday life. In Thailand, where punctuality is intertwined with respect and reliability, this condition can undermine work, study, and family routines. Time blindness involves difficulty estimating and tracking time, and it often coexists with ADHD, autism, and mood conditions. While not listed in DSM-5, experts say the challenge is real and measurable, influencing employability and daily functioning.

Thai culture places a premium on being on time. For people with time blindness, arriving punctually can feel like an ongoing struggle. Neuroscience points to differences in executive functions, especially the prefrontal cortex, which guides planning and time management. Mental health professionals emphasize that time blindness is not intentional noncompliance but a cognitive difference that affects performance at work and school.

New research is shedding light on the complex challenges faced by families raising children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), highlighting strategies that can foster family balance despite often overwhelming circumstances. As one of the most common childhood mental health diagnoses worldwide, ADHD not only disrupts classroom performance but reverberates through family life, impacting emotional well-being, relationships, and daily routines. The latest findings underscore the need for better understanding, targeted supports, and culturally sensitive guidance—an issue of growing urgency for Thai families grappling with rising ADHD diagnoses.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) poses real challenges for Thai families, affecting daily routines, school life, and emotional well-being. New evidence underscores the need for targeted, culturally aware supports that help families navigate ADHD with confidence and resilience.

Globally, ADHD affects about 5–7% of school-aged children. While the condition has a long history, its diagnosis and management remain inconsistent, and stigma often complicates care outside school settings. In Thailand, pediatricians and teachers report rising referrals for attention and behavior difficulties, and public health campaigns by the Department of Mental Health reflect growing concern. Data from leading health institutions suggest ADHD impacts classroom performance, family dynamics, and long-term outcomes if not addressed holistically.

A ground-breaking study led by researchers at the University of Rochester has pinpointed a possible biological reason behind the well-documented trend: boys are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) three times more often than girls. The focus of the research is on the impact of a common contaminant known as PFHxA, a “forever chemical” used in products ranging from food packaging to stain-resistant fabrics, which has now been shown to cause anxiety and behavioral changes predominantly in male offspring—a finding with striking implications for families in Thailand and around the world (Daily Mail).

A new study from a leading university explores why neurodevelopmental diagnoses may show gender differences. Focused on PFHxA, a PFAS chemical found in packaging and stain-resistant fabrics, the research reports that prenatal and early-life exposure in mice led to anxiety, memory challenges, and reduced activity mainly in male offspring. Female offspring appeared less affected. Although conducted in animals, experts say the findings prompt important questions about environmental exposure and child development worldwide, including Thailand.

A landmark international study finds younger pupils in a class, often born later in the year, face higher odds of mental health concerns than their older peers. Analyzing health records of more than a million children, the research prompts education systems worldwide, including Thailand, to reconsider strict entry cutoffs that can unintentionally disadvantage students.

Researchers from Norway’s NTNU reviewed health data for children aged 4–17 born between 1991 and 2012. The study shows October–December births—the youngest in many classrooms—have higher rates of ADHD and related neuropsychiatric conditions compared with January–March births. The magnitude of risk varies with prematurity, with ADHD diagnoses among the youngest students rising by about 20–80 percent. A lead neonatology consultant notes a meaningful relative age effect in childhood mental health.

A major new study from Norway has found that children born later in the school year—those who are the youngest in their class—are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with mental health problems than their older classmates. The research, which analyzed data from over one million children, has ignited global debate over how education systems, including Thailand’s, may inadvertently disadvantage their youngest students through rigid school entry cut-off dates. Experts are now urging policymakers and educators to reconsider age-based class placements and provide additional support to mitigate these long-term mental health risks.

A growing body of research and clinical observation suggests that adult ADHD diagnosis is becoming increasingly inclusive – and contrary to common fears, it is not being overdiagnosed. As reported in a recent essay by a US clinical psychologist published on Aeon (aeon.co), the COVID-19 pandemic, rising mental health awareness, and shifts in diagnostic frameworks have all contributed to sharp increases in adult ADHD diagnoses worldwide, with profound implications for healthcare systems, patients, and policymakers, including those in Thailand.

A growing body of research suggests that adult ADHD identification is becoming more inclusive rather than overdiagnosed. The latest analysis indicates that higher awareness, evolving diagnostic frameworks, and pandemic-driven shifts in daily life have expanded recognition of ADHD in adults. This trend has implications for healthcare systems, patients, and policymakers, including in Thailand.

The surge in awareness gained traction in 2023 when new national data showed a record share of adults reporting an ADHD diagnosis. Stimulant prescriptions rose in parallel, and conversations about ADHD surged online, with billions of views on social media. Similar patterns are emerging worldwide, including in Thailand, where work, study, and home life are placing greater demands on adults.

Moments of mind blanking happen at the most inconvenient times—during exams, important meetings, or casual chats. A growing body of research treats these lapses not as personal failings but as common, brain-wide events that reveal how our minds recharge. For Thai readers, understanding this phenomenon can guide daily stress management, productivity, and mental health awareness in education and work settings.

Researchers now view mind blanking as a normal aspect of cognition, not a rare quirk. A major review indicates people spend roughly 5% to 20% of waking hours with no conscious thoughts. This challenges the notion that blank moments are simply a failure of attention and shows they are a widespread feature of human experience that affects students, professionals, and older adults alike. In Thai classrooms and offices, recognizing this as a natural part of brain function can reduce stigma around forgetting or pausing mid-speech.

It hits at the most inconvenient moments: during a stressful exam, a high-stakes meeting, or even a casual conversation when you simply cannot recall what you were just about to say. This sudden “mind blanking” is more than a common annoyance—recent research reveals it is a complex and surprisingly frequent mental event that holds important lessons about how our brains function and recharge. For Thai readers, understanding this phenomenon can help manage daily stress, enhance productivity, and inform approaches to mental health and education.

A new review has shed light on why people living with obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders (OCSDs), chronic tic disorders (CTDs), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often experience pronounced sleep disturbances—as well as how these intertwined problems could one day be better managed. The research, recently published in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry and summarised by several neuroscience outlets, finds that disruptions in a crucial brain circuit, the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) pathway, underpin both the psychiatric symptoms and the insomnia, delayed sleep onset, and other sleep issues reported in these populationsNeuroscience News.

A new review explains why people with obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders (OCSDs), chronic tic disorders (CTDs), and ADHD often suffer from sleep disturbances, and how these issues might be better managed in the future. The study, highlighted by neuroscience outlets and summarized in academic journals, points to disruptions in a brain network called the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuit as the underlying mechanism for both psychiatric symptoms and insomnia, delayed sleep onset, and related sleep problems.

A wave of recent studies is reshaping how we think about ADHD. Researchers question whether ADHD is a fixed, lifetime brain disorder and whether the traditional medical model serves everyone it intends to help. With rising global diagnosis rates and more stimulant prescriptions, including in Thailand, the conversation matters for clinicians, families, and students alike.

ADHD has long been described as a chronic neurodevelopmental condition marked by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that disrupt daily life. For decades, stimulant medications such as methylphenidate and amphetamine have been widely used, grounded in the belief that they correct a biological imbalance. Yet prominent voices in medicine warn that current science does not fully align with real-world experiences of patients, families, and classrooms in Thailand and beyond.

A wave of recent research is challenging long-held beliefs about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), questioning whether the condition is truly a lifelong, biologically fixed disorder and whether the medical model that has dominated diagnosis and treatment actually serves those affected. With global ADHD diagnosis rates soaring and stimulant prescriptions at record levels—mirrored by rising numbers in Thailand—the debate over what ADHD is and how best to help children and adults affected is more urgent than ever. These new perspectives could have a profound impact not only on clinical practice in the West but on the evolving approach to ADHD in Thailand, where both awareness and skepticism about the condition are growing rapidly.

Millions of children in the United States are diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and the vast majority are prescribed stimulant medications such as Ritalin and Adderall. However, a new wave of research reported by NPR and detailed in The New York Times Magazine raises pressing questions about the effectiveness and long-term consequences of these treatments, as well as the very nature of ADHD itself (NPR, 2025).

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed last year that more than 11% of American children had received an ADHD diagnosis—a record high, and a dramatic increase from the early 1990s figure of just 2 million. In 14-year-old boys, the rate soars to 21%. These statistics portray a nation deeply invested in identifying—and medicating—children with ADHD. But why are diagnoses rising, and are treatments truly serving those diagnosed?

A recent analysis in Trends in Cognitive Sciences confirms a common yet underappreciated brain state: mind blanking. This phenomenon is distinct from daydreaming or boredom and shows specific changes in brain activity, heart rate, and levels of alertness. For Thai readers balancing study loads, exams, and fast-paced work life, these findings offer a clearer picture of everyday lapses and their implications for mental health.

For years, moments of “nothing” in the mind were chalked up to inattention or fatigue. Now, researchers synthesized findings from 80 studies and direct brain measurements to show that mind blanking is a real, frequent, and complex state. Thai students and professionals may experience blanking about 5% to 20% of the time, a figure that invites a more realistic view of focus and productivity in busy routines.

A growing debate over ADHD medications is reshaping how clinicians, educators, and parents view attention challenges. New reporting highlights questions about long-term benefits and potential risks of stimulant drugs like methylphenidate and amphetamine-based medicines. While these medications can produce quick improvements in focus and behavior, experts warn that lasting academic gains are not guaranteed and that ADHD itself may reflect a mix of biological and environmental factors.

In many places, including Thailand, ADHD diagnoses are rising. Health authorities emphasize careful assessment to distinguish ADHD from anxiety, trauma, and learning difficulties. Data from researchers suggests that three out of four children diagnosed with ADHD also have another related issue, underscoring the need for a holistic approach. Some scholars argue that ADHD symptoms exist on a spectrum and may not represent a fixed, lifelong brain disorder.

A new study published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences is shedding light on a phenomenon everyone from Thai university students staring at exam papers to harried Bangkok office workers can relate to: the mind suddenly, inexplicably going blank. Once lumped in with mind wandering, “mind blanking” has now been described by neuroscientists as a unique and measurable state linked not just to daydreaming or boredom, but to specific changes in the brain, body, and levels of alertness. The findings carry important implications for how we understand everyday lapses—along with clinical conditions like anxiety and ADHD—for people in Thailand and around the world.