Australian Study Links Mediterranean Diet to Better Attention in Teens with ADHD

A small case‑control study conducted in Australia examined 39 adolescents aged 13‑18, including 18 with a formal ADHD diagnosis and 21 without. Both groups reported generally poor dietary habits, but participants whose eating patterns more closely resembled a Mediterranean diet showed significantly better performance on a computerized visual attention test, with improvements in attention span, reaction time and impulse control.

Nutrient analysis highlighted higher intake of vitamin B12 and a more favorable omega‑6 to omega‑3 ratio among the higher‑scoring eaters. Although overall diet quality was low across the cohort, the findings suggest that dietary quality, rather than simply eating healthier foods, may influence cognitive symptoms in teens with ADHD. The researchers caution that the study’s limited size precludes causal conclusions but propose that nutrition could be a complementary approach alongside medication and behavioural therapy.