ADHD Experts Podcast 558- ADHD and Puberty: How Hormones Shape Behavior and Mental Health in Adolescents
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Jun 10, 2025 Paul Mitrani, M.D., a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Child Mind Institute, shares insights on how puberty influences behavior and mental health in teens with ADHD. He discusses the hormonal differences between boys and girls during adolescence and their impact on emotional regulation. The conversation includes strategies for parents to maintain strong relationships with their teens and navigates the challenges of adjusting ADHD medications as hormones fluctuate. Mitrani emphasizes the importance of communication and validation to foster resilience during this critical period.
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Adolescent Brain Maturation Delay
- The adolescent brain matures around age 25, making decision-making and impulse control immature during puberty.
- ADHD delays the maturation of the prefrontal cortex, worsening these challenges in teens with ADHD.
Puberty Hormones Shape Brain
- Hormones during puberty have both organizational and activational effects on brain circuits.
- The timing and amount of hormone production combined with brain structure alter adolescent behavior and mental health.
Puberty Brain Excitability and Learning
- More excitatory neurons than inhibitory during puberty prime the brain for learning but increase vulnerability.
- Experiences during this period can cement behavioral foundations affecting adulthood.