Executive Function News
Scientists Drew the First Genetic Map of Adult Executive Function
A genome-wide study of more than 94,000 adults found executive function is modestly heritable, traced the signal to 18 regions of the genome, and discovered that the genes involved are active both early in brain development and again later in life.
ADHD Stimulants May Not Work the Way Scientists Thought, New Study Finds
Brain scans of nearly 5,800 children show that medications like Ritalin and Adderall activate the brain’s reward and wakefulness systems rather than the attention networks they have long been assumed to target, challenging clinical assumptions and raising new questions about sleep.
AI Can Spot ADHD Years Before Diagnosis, Duke Study Finds
An AI model trained on the electronic health records of more than 140,000 children can identify which five-year-olds are likely to be diagnosed with ADHD years later. The promise is earlier support. The deployment questions are larger.
Adults With Diagnosed ADHD Are Dying Years Younger Than Their Peers, Major UK Study Finds
A January 2025 UK study of more than 330,000 adults found that men with diagnosed ADHD lose 4.5 to 9 years of life expectancy, and women lose 6.5 to 11 years. The mechanism, researchers argue, is not the disorder but the systems around it.
Executive Function News is a research and analysis publication of NBEFC®, the National Board for Executive Function Certification. NBEFC offers board certification for executive function coaches at nbefc.org. Our editorial process applies independent journalistic standards to research coverage, regardless of the topic’s relationship to NBEFC’s programs.