Hyperactivity in Childhood

Abstract

THE findings described by Zametkin and his co-workers in this issue of the Journal ¹ represent a clear advance in our understanding of the biologic antecedents of hyperactivity, or attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The authors studied adults who had been hyperactive since childhood and demonstrated reduced glucose metabolism in various areas of the brain, particularly areas known to be associated with the regulation of attention and motor activity —the key difficulties of the disorder.ADHD is a common disorder among children, with a prevalence between 1 and 5 percent depending on the definition. It begins early in childhood, usually before school . . .