ADHD Is Not a Trend – It’s a Neurodevelopmental Disorder

Lately, there’s been a lot of talk suggesting that ADHD is a "vogue diagnosis." Social media is filled with videos, quick online tests, and personal stories that make it seem like everyone suddenly has ADHD. With more adults being diagnosed, some people are wondering: Are we turning everyday struggles into a medical condition, or are we finally noticing something we’ve long misunderstood?

The truth is, it’s more complex than either of those extremes. Yes, ADHD diagnoses have increased, especially in adults and women. But research shows this isn’t because more people suddenly developed ADHD. It’s because for a long time, many people were simply missed. ADHD was often thought of as a condition that affected only hyperactive boys. Girls, women, and quieter children who struggled with attention or emotional regulation were often overlooked. Many adults now getting diagnosed have had symptoms since childhood, but those symptoms were misunderstood or dismissed.

Large-scale research supports this. A meta-analysis by Thomas et al. (2015) found that ADHD affects around 7.2% of children globally. Song et al. (2021) reviewed adult ADHD prevalence and reported rates ranging from 2.5% to 6%. These are not minor figures—they represent millions of people. Furthermore, genetic research by Faraone et al. (2005) and Franke et al. (2012) indicates that ADHD is highly heritable, with 60–90% of the risk linked to genetic factors. These findings confirm that ADHD is a legitimate neurodevelopmental disorder, not a passing trend.

Despite this, one major myth persists: that you can diagnose ADHD with an online quiz. While these tools might help people reflect on their experiences, they are not accurate assessments. A proper diagnosis involves a full clinical interview, developmental history, input from multiple sources, and careful screening for other conditions like anxiety, trauma, depression, or sleep issues, all of which can resemble ADHD. Oversimplifying the process can lead to misdiagnosis or missed diagnoses entirely.

ADHD is fundamentally a condition of brain development and function. Neuroimaging studies, such as those by Curatolo et al. (2010) and Castellanos et al. (2002), show structural differences in key brain regions: the prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and corpus callosum. Children with ADHD often show a delay in brain maturation, especially in areas responsible for executive function. Diffusion imaging studies, like the one by Tolonen et al. (2023), have found reduced structural connectivity across networks involved in attention and self-regulation.

Brain networks, too, play a role. The triple network model (Menon, 2011; Cai et al., 2018) highlights dysfunction in the default mode network (DMN), the frontoparietal network, and the salience network—areas involved in focus, task-switching, and emotional salience. People with ADHD often show difficulty turning off the DMN during tasks, which can lead to distractibility and mind-wandering.

In terms of neurochemistry, ADHD involves disruptions in dopamine and norepinephrine systems. Volkow et al. (2009) found that individuals with ADHD have higher dopamine transporter density, which may lead to reduced dopamine availability in the brain. This helps explain why stimulant medications like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamines are effective—they increase dopamine and norepinephrine activity. Non-stimulants like atomoxetine also target these systems. The effectiveness of these medications is strong evidence for the biological underpinnings of ADHD.

Recent advancements in artificial intelligence have added further support. Machine learning models, such as those reviewed by Frontiers in Psychiatry (2024), have achieved up to 93% accuracy in identifying ADHD from brain scans, particularly using MRI and EEG data. These tools are not yet used clinically, but they show that ADHD has identifiable neural patterns that can be measured.

Understanding all of this helps explain why so many people are being diagnosed later in life. They are not jumping on a trend—they are finally getting an explanation for the challenges they've experienced for years. For many, a diagnosis brings not only clarity, but a sense of relief and a path forward.

Raising awareness about ADHD is a good thing. But it comes with responsibility. We need to avoid using the term too casually or diagnosing based on incomplete information. At the same time, we must respect and support those who are living with ADHD. Their condition is real, measurable, and often misunderstood.

ADHD is not a fad, nor a convenient label. It is a neurodevelopmental condition grounded in decades of scientific research. And for many people, recognising it can be life-changing.