
Teenagers have a lot working against them when it comes to getting enough sleep. They often have after-school activities, heavy loads of homework, and addiction to catching up on social media before bedtime. Teens with ADHD are also struggling with executive function. This can make it difficult to get homework done and manage time.
A new study, conducted by the American Physiological Society, reported that the teens who got less sleep in their study showed significant deficits in executive function. The volunteers in this trial were asked to restrict their sleep to 6 ½ hours per night for a full week. They then extended their sleep up to 9 ½ hours per night for a week. The subjects were tested after each week to determine how the shift in their sleep schedule affected their executive function. This is the first study to display how sleep affects executive function in teens with ADHD.