Supplements

Single-dose stimulant medication causes apparent increases in gray matter volume and cortical thickness in adults with ADHD within 1-2 hours.

In 78 participants (42 healthy controls, 36 adults with ADHD), acute ingestion of a single dose of stimulant medication led to apparent increases in gray matter volume in multiple brain regions and widespread right-lateralized increases in cortical thickness, which were observed in ADHD patients but not healthy controls. The study is the first to show such apparent structural brain changes within 1-2 hours after stimulant ingestion in adults with ADHD.

Last updated: Jul 28, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score32/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Acute Effects of Stimulant Medication on Gray Matter and White Matter Indices in Healthy Controls and Adults With ADHD.

observational

Per T, Mussie M · Brain and behavior (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 1-2 hours
Intervention: Single-dose stimulant medication (CS) ingestion
Outcome: Gray matter volume (GMV), cortical thickness, fractional anisotropy (FA) from DTI, heart rate, blood pressure
Effect Size: N/A
Population: 78 participants: 42 healthy controls and 36 age- and gender-matched adults with ADHD

Result:

PubMed: 42464462DOI: 10.1002/brb3.71606

Mechanism Graph

Stimulant medication is ingested
↓
Within 1-2 hours, apparent increases in gray matter volume and cortical thickness are observed via VBM and SBM
↓
Fractional anisotropy increases in white matter tracts
↓
Result: Apparent structural brain changes occur acutely, but cause is unknown

Limitations

  • ⚠The cause of the apparent structural changes is unknown
  • ⚠No significant correlation was found between structural changes and physiological covariates (heart rate, blood pressure)
  • ⚠The study does not clarify whether these changes are real structural alterations or artifacts of physiological effects

Frequently Asked Questions

What brain regions showed increased gray matter volume after stimulant medication?▼

Apparent increases in GMV were observed in bilateral operculum, insula, cingulate and paracingulate cortices, fusiform gyrus, superior, middle and inferior temporal gyri, and in right putamen and caudate nucleus.

Were there differences between ADHD patients and healthy controls in the structural changes?▼

The apparent increases in cortical thickness were seen in ADHD patients but not in healthy controls. However, there were no significant differences in VBM, SBM, or FA between the groups before or after stimulant ingestion.

Did heart rate and blood pressure changes correlate with the brain structural changes?▼

No significant correlation was detected between the structural gray matter and white matter changes and changes in heart rate or blood pressure.

What is the significance of these findings for longitudinal studies?▼

The authors note that these apparent structural changes should be taken into account in longitudinal VBM, SBM, and DTI studies, as acute medication effects could confound results.

Products

Affiliate links coming soon. We only recommend products that match the doses and forms used in the cited research.

References

  1. 1.Per T, Mussie M. "Acute Effects of Stimulant Medication on Gray Matter and White Matter Indices in Healthy Controls and Adults With ADHD.." Brain and behavior, 2026. PMID: 42464462 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.71606
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.