New Method Detects ADHD With Almost 100% Accuracy

You may know it from yourself or your child: restlessness in the body, racing thoughts, and difficulty concentrating.

But where is the line between natural restlessness and something more serious – like ADHD?

Diagnosis today is often associated with long investigation processes, hours of interviews, and extensive assessments. And even with all that time and effort, it can still be difficult to arrive at a clear answer.

But now, a group of South Korean researchers from Yonsei University in Seoul has shed new light on a simple method that may make the entire process both faster and more accurate – and all it takes is a look into the eye.

When the Brain Is Reflected in the Optic Nerve

The research is based on an astonishing concept: that the retina of the eye – which is directly connected to the brain – can reflect the biological differences associated with ADHD.

Using artificial intelligence, the researchers have analyzed images of the back wall of the eye and found structural patterns that distinguish people with and without the diagnosis.

The AI ​​models were trained to identify details such as variations in blood vessels, changes in the so-called blind spot, and small structural differences that would normally go unnoticed.

The result was startling: one of the models could predict with almost 97 percent accuracy whether a person had ADHD – just by analyzing an image of the retina.

It is a method that is painless, fast, and repeatable. And unlike most traditional diagnostic tools, it is based on a single, measurable data source.

This could mean far fewer misjudgments and much faster access to support and treatment.

Not Just a Tool for the Future

The trials were conducted on 646 children and adolescents – half with ADHD and half without. Although the results are promising, the researchers emphasize that there is still some way to go before the method can be put into practice.

First, the test group was relatively uniform in both age and gender.

And while the model performed impressively well among children, adults with ADHD may have other visual cues that require adjustments to the method.

Future studies must therefore cover broader groups and assess how robust the technology is across age, gender, and any co-existing diagnoses.

But the potential is clear – and with the right adjustments, it could revolutionize the way we screen for ADHD.

Why the Method Could Be a Breakthrough

What makes the research from Yonsei University so interesting is that, for the first time, it combines high precision with low complexity.

There is no need to collect vast amounts of information. No need to ask ten different questions. And no need to conduct multiple long assessment interviews.

In short, the method can provide a quick and clear indication – especially in cases where there is doubt or where resources for longer investigations are limited.

According to the researchers, it is precisely the combination of simplicity, reliability, and a non-invasive technique that makes the method a potential game changer.

And if the technology lives up to its promising potential, thousands of children and young people could receive an earlier – and more accurate – ADHD diagnosis in the future.

The article is based on information from Illustrated Science.