ADHD May Delay Recovery After Sport-Related Concussion
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, May 6, 2025 -- For high school athletes, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) status, female sex, and younger age are potential risk factors for prolonged recovery from sport-related concussion, according to a study published online March 25 in the Journal of Athletic Training.
Kyoko Shirahata, Ph.D., from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and colleagues examined concussion recovery time based on ADHD status, sex, and age in a cross-sectional study involving 935 concussions among high school students. Return-to-learn and return-to-sport recovery outcomes were estimated.
The researchers found that the mean return-to-learn days were 12.86 ± 10.89 and 1.43 ± 8.39 for the ADHD and non-ADHD groups, respectively. The mean return-to-sport days were 20.82 ± 15.25 and 18.03 ± 11.42 days for the ADHD and non-ADHD groups, respectively. ADHD status and female sex were significant variables for longer recovery for return-to-learn (risk ratios, 1.16 and 1.13, respectively), while age was not. ADHD status, female sex, and younger age were all significant variables for longer recovery for return-to-sport (risk ratios, 1.17, 1.07, and 0.98, respectively).
"Clinicians should be aware of the possible longer recovery for athletes with ADHD, particularly younger female athletes, to provide anticipatory guidance and to address questions regarding the return-to-sport recovery timeline following concussion," the authors write.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted May 2025
Read this next
Insomnia Plays a Role in Quality of Life for Patients With ADHD
MONDAY, July 21, 2025 -- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are associated with lower quality of life (QoL) in adults, and this association is only partially...
ADHD Medications Remain Linked to Lower Risk for Real-World Adverse Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, July 2, 2025 -- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications remain associated with a reduced risk for various real-world outcomes, but the magnitude of...
Onset of Sepsis in First Week of Life Tied to Increased Likelihood of Autism Spectrum Disorder
TUESDAY, June 24, 2025 -- Early-onset neonatal sepsis is associated with increased likelihood autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.