Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition that affects how people focus, control impulses, and manage their energy levels. It can make daily tasks, work, and relationships challenging for those who have it. In recent years, researchers have been looking into new ways to treat ADHD, especially non-drug approaches. Three recent studies have shed light on some promising methods: neurofeedback, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Let’s take a closer look at what these studies found.
What Is ADHD?
ADHD isn’t just about being "hyper" or unfocused. It’s a complex condition that can show up in different ways. Some people struggle more with inattention—they might forget things, get distracted easily, or have trouble finishing tasks. Others have more hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, like fidgeting, talking too much, or acting without thinking. Many people with ADHD have a mix of both. While it’s often diagnosed in children, ADHD can last into adulthood, affecting about 2-5% of adults worldwide.
New Treatments on the Horizon
For a long time, ADHD has been treated with medication and therapy. But not everyone responds well to medication, and some people prefer non-drug options. That’s where treatments like neurofeedback, tDCS, and TMS come in. These methods aim to help the brain work better by either training it or gently stimulating specific areas.
Neurofeedback: Training the Brain
Neurofeedback is like a workout for the brain. It uses special equipment to show people their brain activity (like a video game for the brain). The goal is to teach them to control their brain waves, which can help with focus and calmness.
A 2025 study by Courrèges and colleagues compared neurofeedback with tDCS and TMS in adults with ADHD. They found that neurofeedback can be effective, especially for improving attention and reducing impulsivity. Over time, people who did neurofeedback learned to regulate their brain activity on their own, which meant the benefits might last longer.
tDCS: A Gentle Electrical Boost
tDCS is a simple, non-invasive treatment. It uses small electrodes placed on the scalp to send a weak electrical current to the brain. This current is so mild that most people barely feel it, but it can help "boost" the activity of brain areas involved in focus and self-control.
Courrèges’ study also looked at tDCS and found that it can improve symptoms in adults with ADHD, especially when used regularly. Another study by Chen and team, which focused on children and teenagers with ADHD, showed similar results. They noticed that tDCS worked best when targeting specific parts of the brain, like the prefrontal cortex—a part that helps with decision-making and focus.
TMS: Using Magnets to Stimulate the Brain
TMS uses magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. Unlike tDCS, the magnetic pulses can reach deeper into the brain. This makes it a good option for targeting areas that are harder to reach with other methods.
In the comparison study by Courrèges, TMS was found to be effective for reducing hyperactivity and improving mood in adults with ADHD. Chen’s study, which included both kids and teens, also reported positive results with TMS, especially when combined with other therapies like behavior training.
Finding the Right Spot: Where to Stimulate
One important question is: where on the brain should these treatments focus? A 2025 study by Yang and colleagues tried to answer this. They looked at brain scans from different groups of people with ADHD and found that certain areas consistently showed unusual activity.
The most promising target was the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in focus and self-control. Another key area was the cerebellum, which helps with coordination and attention. By targeting these spots, treatments like tDCS and TMS were more likely to work, the study found. This explains why the other studies saw better results when they focused on these areas.
Which Treatment Is Best?
It’s hard to say one treatment is better than the others because everyone with ADHD is different. Courrèges’ study found that neurofeedback might be better for people who want to learn long-term control over their symptoms. tDCS is easy to use and can be done at home with guidance, making it a convenient option. TMS, on the other hand, might work faster for some people, especially those with more severe symptoms.
For children and teenagers, Chen’s study suggests that non-invasive brain stimulations like tDCS and TMS can be safe and effective, but they need to be adjusted for a child’s developing brain. Parents and doctors should work together to choose the best approach.
Conclusion
ADHD is a challenging condition, but new treatments are giving people more options. Neurofeedback, tDCS, and TMS all show promise, and research is helping us understand how to use them better—like finding the right brain areas to target. While more studies are needed, these methods offer hope for people with ADHD who want to manage their symptoms and live better lives.
References:
1. Courrèges M, Hoareau M, Levenes C, Rahioui H. Comparative efficacy of neurofeedback, tDCS, and TMS: The future of therapy for adults with ADHD. A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2025 Nov 1;388:119585. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.119585. Epub 2025 Jun 10. PMID: 40505983.
2. Chen Q, Pan N, Long Y, Qin K, Sangchooli A, Cao Y, Singh MK, Chen Y, Gong Q. Noninvasive Brain Stimulation in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Treatment Efficacy and Targeting Strategies. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025 Jul 18:S0890-8567(25)00339-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2025.07.009. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40701403.
3. Yang Y, Yuan S, Lin H, Han Y, Zhang B, Yu J. Potential locations for non-invasive brain stimulation in treating ADHD: Results from a cross-dataset validation of functional connectivity analysis. Transl Psychiatry. 2025 Mar 15;15(1):81. doi: 10.1038/s41398-025-03303-9. PMID: 40089469; PMCID: PMC11910651.
