ADHD in teens: how puberty hormones affect thinking, mood, and behavior
Official title: ADHD and its Cognition and Affective Mechanisms During Adolescence
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11340550 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how puberty-related estrogen changes influence ADHD symptoms, thinking skills, and mood in adolescent girls with ADHD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,695,895 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH143819-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11340550 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents with ADHD, under 18, who are in mid to late puberty and have natural menstrual cycles.
✕Less likely to help
Girls with ADHD who are not in adolescence or who have irregular or halted menstruation may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will follow 100 adolescent girls with ADHD through puberty to see how natural changes in estrogen across the menstrual cycle relate to ADHD symptoms, cognitive performance, and negative mood. It uses frequent assessments to track hormones, ADHD behaviors, and thinking tasks to understand brain–hormone interactions. The goal is to identify patterns that explain why symptoms may worsen at certain cycle phases and how this knowledge could guide better care for teens with ADHD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding estrogen’s impact could lead to more personalized strategies for managing ADHD symptoms during puberty.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows hormonal fluctuations relate to ADHD symptoms, but this is the first targeted, cycle-based study in adolescents with ADHD.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martel, Michelle M — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Martel, Michelle M
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.