Unique changes in a particular part of the body could now help reveal signs of ADHD, new research has found.
Scientists in South Korea have claimed that characteristics of the back of your eye could link towards Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects concentration, impulse control and activity levels.
Using an AI computer model to predict the condition, the specialist team analysed images of the retina in a study of 323 children and adolescents with ADHD, alongside 323 without it.
The model, found to have a 96 per cent accuracy rate, revealed that those with ADHD had key differences in the eye, particularly in the shape and pattern of their blood vessels.
Changes such as an increase in the number of blood vessels, thicker vessels, alongside smaller optic discs (controlling how the eyes connect to the brain), were all shown to be indicators of whether or not an individual has ADHD.
Changes in the eye may reflect the brain connectivity differences associated with ADHD given that the retina is closely linked to the brain.
The group of specialist researchers, working for the Yonesi University College of Medicine in Seoul, said that their analysis of the retina had ‘demonstrated potential as a noninvasive biomarker for ADHD screener’.
Scientists in South Korea have claimed that characteristics of the back of your eye could point towards Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects concentration, impulse control and activity levels
Using an AI computer model, with a 96 per cent accuracy rate, to predict the condition, the results found that those with ADHD had key differences in the eye, particularly in the shape and pattern of their blood vessels
They added: ‘Notably, earlier high-accuracy models typically relied on a diverse set of variables, each contributing incrementally to differentiating subjects.
‘Our approach simplifies the analysis by focusing exclusively on retinal photographs. This single-source data strategy enhances the clarity and utility of our models’.
The new findings, published last month in npj Digital Medicine, could provide a crucial opportunity for a faster and more accurate diagnosis of the condition.
Impacting an estimated 2.5million people across England, common symptoms of ADHD include restlessness, distractibility, forgetfulness, difficulty following instructions or managing time, and making impulsive decisions.
Reflecting on the importance for a greater recognition of key symptoms, the researchers added: ‘Early screening and timely intervention can improve social, familial and academic functioning in individuals with ADHD’.
However, despite the significance of the results, the scientists also stressed that it is a preliminary study, with the findings based on a limited sample size and age range (average age of nine years old).
The team are now hoping to apply the landmark tests to a larger group across a wider age range, while also accounting for those with disabilities such as autism.
The new findings could provide an opportunity for a faster and more accurate diagnosis of the condition, which impacts an estimated 2.5 million people across England. Pictured: Love Island star Olivia Attwood who said living with ADHD caused her ‘a lot of stress’ in her teens
It comes as new NHS figures revealed that three and four per cent of adults and five per cent of children and young people have ADHD. Former Bake Off host Sue Perkins, pictured, said learning that she had ADHD made ‘everything make sense’
It comes as new NHS figures revealed that three and four per cent of adults and five per cent of children and young people have ADHD.
This means a total of 2,498,000 people may have the condition, including those without a diagnosis. Of this number, an estimated 741,000 are children and young people aged five to 24.
The figures also show that more than 549,000 people in England were waiting for an ADHD assessment at the end of March 2025—up from 416,000 the previous year.
Of those currently waiting for an assessment, around 304,000 had been waiting at least a year—and 144,000 for two years or more, as NHS services struggle to keep up with spiraling demand.
More than two-thirds (382,000) were aged between five and 24.
Public figures such as Katie Price, Love Island’s Olivia Atwood, Sheridan Smith and former Bake Off host Sue Perkins have also spoken publicly about their experiences with the condition.
Attwood said it caused ‘a lot of stress’ in her teens, while Price said it explained why she never felt there would be ‘consequences’ for her actions. Perkins said the diagnosis made ‘everything make sense’.
