Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder
Studies indicate that both children and adults can suffer from ADHD. And while the cause of ADHD is still unknown, researchers believe genetics, diet, environmental factors, and even infections and an abnormal immune system play a role.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is typically viewed as a behavioral disorder that impacts only children. To be diagnosed with ADHD, symptoms must have started before age 12. However, new research suggests that adults can also develop ADHD or symptoms which mimic the disorder.
Late-onset ADHD has long been perceived as merely a continuation of ADHD that went undiagnosed in childhood. But several studies now dispute that view, claiming adults can develop ADHD behaviors and that these patients may have a separate and distinct syndrome. 3

Can adolescents or adults develop symptoms of ADHD?

Several studies indicate that adolescents and adults can, in fact, develop symptoms of ADHD and that it may not be the result of an undiagnosed childhood disorder. One study found that 85% of people with ADHD did not have the disorder as a child. “The findings of this study do not support the assumption that adulthood ADHD is necessarily a continuation of childhood ADHD.” 1

Another study found, 90% of adult ADHD cases did not have a history of childhood ADHD. 2 Therefore, ADHD symptoms can develop in adults “and may be a syndrome distinct from childhood-onset ADHD.” 3

A variety of factors can impact whether an adolescent or adult develop ADHD. These can include genetics, environmental influences, and dietary habits. Even exposure to infections coupled with an immune dysfunction can cause ADHD-like symptoms in some individuals.

Get treated for treatment-resistant symptoms

Abnormal immune system response triggering symptoms that mimic ADHD

Common infections, which often times may be hidden and go undiagnosed, can induce an abnormal immune system response. Antibodies produced to attack the harmful bacteria or virus, instead, may attack healthy cells in the brain.

An autoimmune attack on the brain can cause inflammation in a specific region of the brain (basal ganglia), triggering symptoms that mimic ADHD. Patients with an infection-triggered autoimmune encephalopathy may often be misdiagnosed with a psychiatric illness or behavioral disorder (such as ADHD), when instead they may have a treatable autoimmune disorder.

Strep infections, for example, have been linked to a subgroup of patients with ADHD. 4 And researchers have found that “streptococcal infections and autoimmune reactions against the basal ganglia are more frequent in ADHD patients.” 5

Enteroviruses have also been associated with ADHD-like symptoms. Studies have shown that some patients with this virus experienced “increased symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, oppositional defiance, internalizing problems, and increased likelihood of ADHD diagnosis.” 6

And researchers believe cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a common herpes virus, has the “potency to be responsible for at least part of ADHD cases.” 7 This virus has been shown to be associated with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and cognitive deficits in certain populations. 8

Other infections linked to symptoms of ADHD

Other infections linked to symptoms of ADHD include: Candida albicans (a common yeast infection); allergic diseases (i.e. atopic eczema, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis) 9; varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which causes chickenpox; herpes zoster (the shingles virus); middle ear infections 10 and allergic conjunctivitis. 11 An infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria causing Lyme disease, can result in symptoms that mimic ADHD. 12

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27192050 Caye A, Rocha TB, Anselmi L, et al. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Trajectories From Childhood to Young Adulthood: Evidence From a Birth Cohort Supporting a Late-Onset Syndrome. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73(7):705–712.
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25998281 Moffitt TE, Houts R, Asherson P, et al. Is Adult ADHD a Childhood-Onset Neurodevelopmental Disorder? Evidence From a Four-Decade Longitudinal Cohort Study. Am J Psychiatry. 2015;172(10):967–977.
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5475268/ Agnew-Blais JC, Polanczyk GV, Danese A, Wertz J, Moffitt TE, Arseneault L. Evaluation of the Persistence, Remission, and Emergence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Young Adulthood. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73(7):713–720.
  4. https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/news/20000512/strep-infections-associated-adhd WebMD. Strep infections may be associated with ADHD. May 12, 2000.
  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22956712 Toto, M., Margari, F., Simone, M., Craig, F., Petruzzelli, M. G., Tafuri, S., & Margari, L. (2015). Antibasal Ganglia Antibodies and Antistreptolysin O in Noncomorbid ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders, 19(11), 965–970.
  6. https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/122/2/e452.abstract Susan Shur-Fen Gau, Luan-Yin Chang, Li-Min Huang, Tsui-Yen Fan, Yu-Yu Wu, Tzou-Yien Lin. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity–Related Symptoms Among Children With Enterovirus 71 Infection of the Central Nervous System. Pediatrics Aug 2008, 122 (2) e452-e458.
  7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4613039/#b30 Zhou R, Xia Q, Shen H, Yang X, Zhang Y, Xu J. Diagnosis of children's attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and its association with cytomegalovirus infection with ADHD: a historical review. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015;8(8):13969–13975. Published 2015 Aug 15.
  8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3842806/ Assinger A, Yaiw KC, Göttesdorfer I, Leib-Mösch C, Söderberg-Nauclér C. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) induces human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) transcription. Retrovirology. 2013;10:132. Published 2013 Nov 12.
  9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19692717 Romanos M, Gerlach M, Warnke A, et al. Association of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and atopic eczema modified by sleep disturbance in a large population-based sample. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 2010;64:269-273.
  10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2304807 Andrew R. Adesman, Lisa A. Altshuler, Paul H. Lipkin, Gary A. Walco. Otitis Media in Children With Learning Disabilities and in Children With Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity. Pediatrics Mar 1990, 85 (3) 442-446.
  11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23375343 Jeng-Dau Tsai, Shih-Ni Chang, Chih-Hsin Mou, Fung-Chang Sung, Ko-Huang Lue. Association between atopic diseases and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in childhood: a population-based case-control study. Annals of Epidemiology. Volume 23, Issue 4, 2013, Pages 185-188.
  12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9774805 Brian A. Fallon, Janice M. Kochevar, Andrea Gaito, Jenifer A. Nields. The underdiagnosis of neuropsychiatric Lyme disease in children and adults. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, Volume 21, Issue 3, 1998, Pages 693-703.
Herpes virus HCMV can be responsible for adult ADHD

The herpes virus HCMV has the “potency to be responsible for at least part of ADHD cases.” 7

Infections may cause ADHD that develops in adults and children
How can an infection cause ADHD symptoms?

Learn more about how infections can trigger neuropsychiatric symptoms

Cunningham Panel helps identify an autoimmune disorder in child initially diagnosed with schizophrenia

Cunningham Panel™ helps identify an autoimmune disorder in child initially diagnosed with schizophrenia

Researchers describe a complex case involving a 15-year-old girl, who abruptly developed multiple neurologic and psychiatric symptoms.

Autoimmune diseases and severe infections as risk factors for mood disorders: a nationwide study

Autoimmune diseases and severe infections as risk factors for mood disorders: a nationwide study

This nationwide, population-based, prospective cohort study examines the link between mood disorders, infections, and autoimmune disease.

Childhood infections can increase risk of mental illness in kids

Childhood infections can increase risk of mental illness in kids

Nationwide study finds both mild and severe infections can increase risk of mental disorders in children and adolescents.

  • Test Order Process
    The Cunningham Panel™ – Antibody testing that helps determine whether an autoimmune response may be triggering neurologic and/or psychiatric symptoms.

B. Robert Mozayeni, MD

Medical and Clinical Advisor

B. Robert Mozayeni MD

Dr. B. Robert Mozayeni was trained in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology at Yale and at NIH. He has had pre- and post-doctoral Fellowships in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale, and also at NIH where he was a Howard Hughes Research Scholar at LMB/DCBD/NCI and later, Senior Staff Fellow at LMMB/NHLBI/NIH. Editorial board of Infectious Diseases – Surveillance, Prevention and Treatment. Past President of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS).

He is an expert in Translational Medicine, the science and art of advancing medical science safely and efficiently. He is a Fellow of the non-profit Think Lead Innovate Foundation and is a co-founder of the Foundation for the Study of Inflammatory Diseases. He is a Founder of the Foundation for the Study of Inflammatory Diseases to crowd-source medical solutions for complex conditions using existing knowledge, diagnostic methods, and therapies to meet patient needs immediately. He is the Chief Medical Officer of Galaxy Diagnostics, LLC. He is a Board member of the Human-Kind Alliance. Dr. Mozayeni has held admitting privileges (since 1994) on the clinical staff of Suburban Hospital, a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine and an affiliate of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.

Safedin Sajo Beqaj, PhD, HCLD, CC (ABB)

Moleculera Labs, Clinical Laboratory Advisor
Medical Database, Inc., President and CEO

Sajo Baqaj, PhD

Dr. Sajo Beqaj is board certified in molecular pathology and genetics and licensed as a Bioanalyst and High Complexity Laboratory Director. He has been practicing as a laboratory director since 2005.

Dr. Beqaj served as a technical director and was part of the initial management team for several well-known laboratories in the clinical lab industry including PathGroup, Nashville, TN; DCL Medical Laboratories, Indianapolis, IN, and Pathology, Inc, Torrance, CA. He is currently serving as off-side CLIA laboratory director for BioCorp Clinical Laboratory, Whittier, CA and Health360 Labs, Garden Grove, CA.

Dr. Beqaj received his Ph.D. in Pathology from Wayne State University Medical School, Detroit, Michigan. He performed his post-doctoral fellowship at Abbott Laboratories from 2001-2003 and with Children’s Hospital and Northwestern University from 2003-2005.

Dr. Beqaj has taught in several academic institutions and has published numerous medical textbook chapters and journal articles. He has served as a principal investigator in clinical trials for several well-known pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies such as Roche HPV Athena, Merck HPV vaccine, BD vaginitis panel, Roche (Vantana) CINtec® Histology clinical trials, and has presented various scientific clinical abstracts and presentations.

He is a member of several medical and scientific associations including the Association of Molecular Pathology, American Association of Clinical Chemistry and the Pan Am Society for Clinical Virology. He has served on a number of clinical laboratory regulatory and scientific committees, and has assisted several laboratories and physicians as a Clinical Laboratory Consultant.

Rodney Cotton, MBA

Moleculera Labs Board Member

Rodney Cotton, MBA

Rodney Cotton, MBA is an entrepreneurial thought leader in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry who is known for his holistic perspective, bias for action in the face of challenges, and commitment to agile processes.

Rod is an independent director for Orchard Software, a private equity-backed health technology company owned by Francisco Partners; an advisory board member to Flo2 Ventures, a venture capital-backed healthcare and health equity accelerator; and a member of the board of directors and three board committees (Audit, Compliance & Finance; Governance & Equity; and Quality of Care) for Community Health Network.

He built a successful career at Roche spanning more than two decades and culminating in the role of SVP, Head of Strategy & Transformation, and Chief of Staff to the CEO for Roche Diagnostics, the North American headquarters of the world’s largest ($17B) diagnostics company.

While at Roche, Rod led key enterprise initiatives, such as milestone corporate communications, health equity coalitions, the US/Roche Group audit, and global/US acquisition integrations. With 40+ years of experience, he drove the financial turnaround and cultural transformation of four global healthcare companies, led teams of up to 280 total reports, managed P&L of more than $1 billion, and served as a key member of the senior leadership team executing the most significant restructuring of the company in two decades.

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rod and his team at Roche accelerated six ground breaking products in 11 months, including the first launch of the market’s most accurate and in demand molecular diagnostic test. He also solved extraordinary challenges of product scarcity, supply chain, product allocation, and logistics to achieve accelerated global sourcing and self manufacturing in line with testing guidelines.

A frequent public speaker on health equity and other topics, Rod was named one of the Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America by Savoy Magazine and one of the Top Blacks in Healthcare by BlackDoctor.org. He also received The Sagamore of the Wabash Award, one of the highest Indiana State honors, bestowed by Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb.

Rod holds an M.B.A. from California State University, Dominguez Hills, an M.S. in Strategic Management from the University of Southern California, and a B.A. in Biological Sciences & Technology from the University of California at Santa Barbara.