New Study Links Asthma to ADHD

Results of a recent study published in the August 2013 issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology link ADHD symptoms in boys to higher instances of asthma, allergies, and skin infections. A HealthDay article (1) detailing results of the study shared the following:

“Boys diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are more likely also to have asthma, allergies and skin infections than youngsters without ADHD, a new study finds, suggesting a possible link between these conditions. Of those in the study, boys newly diagnosed with ADHD were 40 percent more likely to have asthma, 50 percent more likely to have needed a prescription for allergy medicine and 50 percent more likely to have had a bacterial skin infection than other boys.
“Our study provides additional evidence to support the hypothesis that atopic disorders, such as asthma and food allergies increase the risk of developing ADHD,’ the authors wrote, adding that further research is necessary to determine just how these conditions might be connected…
The authors theorize that the links they found may be food-allergy related. However, this study didn’t attempt to prove cause and effect, so the exact reason behind the association remains unknown.
Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York, said the connection between ADHD and allergic diseases has been seen in other studies.
‘The association seems to be real. The chicken-and-the-egg question remains unanswered. The challenge is in teasing out why they’re linked,’ he said.”

At Whole Child Wellness, we know that a child’s immune response and gut health play vital roles in his or her behavior. That’s why our program includes not only sensory motor and cognitive activities but also nutritional guidelines and support. Our goal is to remove stress on the immune and digestive systems while simultaneously strengthening the under-connectivity between the two hemispheres of the brain called Functional Disconnection Syndrome. After completing a comprehensive assessment, our team develops a customized program to address your child’s particular issues for optimal results. In fact, a recent control study showed that 12 weeks of brain balancing eliminated ADHD symptoms in 81% of participants!