People with ADHD could recover faster from coronavirus – Israeli study

Belinson hospital team members wearing protective clothes as they work at the Coronavirus ward of Belinson hospital in Petah Tikva on October 04, 2020

(photo credit: YOSSI ALONI/FLASH90)

People with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may recover faster from COVID-19, new Israeli research suggests.

Yuval Arbel, Chaim Fialkoff, Amichai Kerner and Miryam Kerner examined the relationship between infection, mortality and recovery rates from coronavirus and the prevalence of ADHD at the US statewide level. 

Pulling on 2011 data regarding the prevalence of ADHD across the US by state, the researchers determined that there was no correlation between ADHD infection and mortality rates. However, they did discover that recovery rates rise with the prevalence of ADHD.

“States with the highest levels of ADHD recover better than states with lower prevalence of ADHD,” Arbel explained to The Jerusalem Post. “ADHD might provide an evolutionary advantage.”

Arbel said that often ADHD is “often talked about in negative terms” and that some preliminary research about coronavirus and ADHD indicated that the condition may be a risk factor for contracting the virus. 

“This is explained by the difficulties of those with ADHD to comply fully with recommendations to prevent infection from the virus,” according to the research paper, which was published earlier this month in the Journal of Attention Disorders. 

In contrast, Arbel said that ADHD could be seen as “something positive” in the battle against COVID-19. He said individuals with the virus tend to be creative, have high energy levels and take risks – characteristics that may provide assistance in recovery.

Arbel added that the concept would need to be taken further and studied more. However, if corroborated, coronavirus limitations in special education frameworks for ADHD might not be required or could be reduced.