Children who follow key healthy lifestyle recommendations at age 10 and 11 are much less likely to be diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by age 14.
In one of the first investigations of its kind, the study of more than 3000 fifth-grade students in Nova Scotia, Canada, showed that those who met at least seven of nine healthy lifestyle recommendations had a substantially lower incidence of ADHD compared to their counterparts who only met between one and three of the criteria.
“The evidence is there to show that the association between lifestyle and physical health exists. Now it seems that these same recommendations also protect children from developing ADHD. The more factors they comply with, the less likely they are to develop ADHD. To date, no other study has really considered all these lifestyle factors simultaneously,” senior investigator Paul Veugelers, PhD, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, told Medscape Medical News.
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The incidence of ADHD among North American children and youth remains high, with more than 6 million children in the US diagnosed with the disorder. ADHD affects approximately 1 in 8 boys and 1 in 18 girls. Worldwide, estimates show more than 100 million children and teenagers have an ADHD diagnosis.
What’s more, increasing rates of the disorder run parallel to what the investigators describe as deteriorating lifestyle choices. Factors such as poor diet, physical inactivity, poor sleep habits, and sedentary behavior have all been associated with ADHD.
While stimulant medications have proved a useful treatment, the investigators note there has been little research into potential preventive strategies.
“My research interest has always been how the lifestyles of children affect health,” said Veugelers. “At first I only considered physical health, but in recent years it’s become apparent that lifestyle affects mental health as well.
“So originally I did not intend to look at ADHD,” he added. “But because of the associations that kept coming up, I decided this needs further investigation and this study is one of the products of that further investigation.”
For the study, investigators analyzed lifestyle survey data from 3436 10- and 11-year-olds who are participants in the Children’s Lifestyle and School Performance Study (CLASS).
The children and their parents provided data regarding adherence to nine healthy lifestyle recommendations that included diet, physical activity, sleep and screen time, all of which are supported by evidence demonstrating their beneficial effects on children’s health. Parents also provided information on family income, education, and place of residence.
