  ADHD Patients Found to Have Chemical Imbalance  New research
shows the first definitive evidence that there is a chemical
imbalance in the brains of those suffering from attention
deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  The study, conducted
by the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National
Laboratory in New York State, has found that ADHD sufferers have
deficiencies in the way the brain deals with dopamine, an amino
acid involved in regulation of movement, thought, and behavior.
“These deficits in the brain’s reward system may help explain
clinical symptoms of ADHD, including inattention and reduced
motivation, as well as the propensity for complications such as
drug abuse and obesity among ADHD patients,” said Nora Volkow,
lead author and director of the National Institute on Drug
Abuse.  During the study, brain scans were done on 53 adult ADHD
patients who had never received treatment and 44 healthy control
subjects.  Study co-author Gene-Jack Wang, chair of Brookhaven’s
medical department,