ADHD and sunlight - is there a link?

ADHD is the most common psychiatric disorder and no one has determined the cause of it.  Researchers have identified a few factors which may contribute to ADHD including:

• Genetics
• Premature Birth
• Use of alcohol or cigarettes during pregnancy
• Low birth weight
• Enviromental exposure

Researchers did notice an interesting pattern in the rate of cases of ADHD in US states - states with more sunlight had fewer cases of ADHD.  Dr. Martijn Arns of Utrecht University in the Netherlands and his colleagues did further research into a possible relationship between sunlight and ADHD.  They examined solar intensity in the US and 9 other countries. 

Mcconnmama on Pixabay

Arns and his team found that the number of ADHD cases were lower in geographic areas with a high solar intensity.  They checked whether the number of cases of autism had a relationship to sunlight and did not find one. 

Arns concluded that the "preventative effect of high SI (solar intensity) might be related to an improvement of circadian clock disturbances, which have recently been associated with ADHD." He stated,"from the public health perspective, manufacturers of tablets, smartphones and PCs could investigate the possibility of time-modulated color-adjustment of screens, to prevent unwanted exposure to blue light in the evening." 

"These results could also point the way to prevention of a sub-group of ADHD, by increasing the exposure to natural light during the day in countries and states with low solar intensity. For example, skylight systems in classrooms and scheduling playtime in line with the biological clock could be explored further," said Arns.

The study "Geographic Variation in the Prevalence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: The Sunny Perspective" is in the journal Biological Psychiatry.

©Mary M Conneely T/A Advocacy in Action