ADHD Biomarkers: Diagnostic Utility in Children

Plain-language summary

Research suggests that several types of biomarkers, including metabolomics, neuroimaging, microRNAs, and even infant microbes, show promise for aiding in the early and accurate diagnosis of ADHD in children. However, it's important to remember that this evidence is still emerging and often comes from early-stage studies, meaning more research is needed to confirm these findings and translate them into clinical practice.

Key findings

• Metabolomic markers, which are small molecules involved in metabolism, are being investigated for their potential to help diagnose ADHD in children and adolescents.
• Neuroimaging techniques, specifically looking at brain activity during tasks, may offer clues for ADHD diagnosis when combined with machine learning.
• MicroRNAs, tiny molecules that regulate gene expression, are also being explored as possible indicators for ADHD.
• The composition of microbes and their byproducts in infants might provide early insights into later neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADHD.
• Researchers are working to identify a range of biological indicators that could ultimately lead to better diagnostic tools for ADHD.

Studies cited (7)

1. Metabolomic Markers in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among Children and Adolescents-A Systematic Review — Predescu E, Vaidean T, Rapciuc AM (2024, International journal of molecular sciences, systematic-review)

   DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084385 PMCID: PMC11050195

2. Identification of diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder — Lee SY, Wang LJ, Yen CF (2025, The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences, other)

   DOI: 10.1002/kjm2.12931 PMCID: PMC11964106

3. Identifying neuroimaging biomarkers of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from cortical hemodynamic responses during Go/NoGo task using machine learning approaches — Li X, Liu X, Jiang Y (2025, Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, other)

   DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2025.111417

4. Infant microbes and metabolites point to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders — Ahrens AP, Hyötyläinen T, Petrone JR (2024, Cell, other)

   DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.02.035

5. MicroRNAs as potential biomarkers for diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — Martinez B, Peplow PV (2024, Neural regeneration research, other)

   DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.380880 PMCID: PMC10581556

6. Auxiliary Diagnosis of Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Using Eye-Tracking and Digital Biomarkers: Case-Control Study — Liu Z, Li J, Zhang Y (2024, JMIR mHealth and uHealth, other)

   DOI: 10.2196/58927 PMCID: PMC11645504

7. Association of Cord Plasma Biomarkers of In Utero Acetaminophen Exposure With Risk of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Childhood — Ji Y, Azuine RE, Zhang Y (2020, JAMA psychiatry, other)

   DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.3259 PMCID: PMC6822099