The Effect of Methylphenidate Treatment on Olfactory Function in Children and Adolescents With ADHD

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to research whether there is an olfactory disorder in ADHD, and if so, what is the effect of methylphenidate on this condition. Method: This is a cross-sectional study aiming to evaluate olfactory threshold, identification, discrimination and threshold, discrimination, and identification (TDI) scores in 109 children and adolescents, 33 of whom have ADHD without medication, 29 with ADHD with medication and 47 control groups. Result: In the post hoc tests, the mean odor discrimination test, the mean odor identification test, and the mean TDI scores of the unmedicated ADHD group were significantly lower than those of the other two groups, and that the mean odor threshold test scores of the medicated ADHD group were significantly lower than those of the control and unmedicated groups. Conclusion: Olfactory function could be a useful tool to monitor treatment effects and may be a promising candidate as a biomarker in ADHD.

Deficits in olfactory system neurogenesis in neurodevelopmental disorders

“…A number of studies have reported olfactory deficits in individuals with ADHD. Children with ADHD have shown deficits in odor identification (Ghanizadeh et al, 2012;Karsz et al, 2008;Mercan Isik et al, 2023;Murphy et al, 2001), odor detection threshold (Ghanizadeh, 2010;Ghanizadeh et al, 2012) these findings contradict a separate study in which children and adolescents with ADHD showed greater olfactory sensitivity (Lorenzen et al, 2016;Romanos et al, 2008). Interestingly, methylphenidate, a standard medication for ADHD, has been shown to normalize these olfactory changes (Mercan Isik et al, 2023;Romanos et al, 2008).…”