Children's National Hospital (District of Columbia)

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 7, 2026 — For decades, doctors assumed ADHD medications like Ritalin and Adderall work by fixing problems in the brain’s attention system. A new study suggests that assumption may be wrong. Instead of acting on attention centers, these stimulant drugs appear to target the brain’s reward and wakefulness centers, according to new research published in the journal Cell . “When I first saw the results, I thought I had just made a mistake because none of the attention systems are changing here,” study author Dr. Benjamin Kay , a professor of neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, told The Washington Post. The researchers analyzed brain scans from nearly 5,800 8- to 11-year-olds who took part in the long-running Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study. Some had taken prescription stimulants on the day of their scan. Others had not. When scientists compared the two groups, they found clear differences — but not where they expected. The drugs increased activity in brain regions tied to reward and wakefulness, not attention. That doesn’t mean the medications don’t help. “The paper clearly shows that they help,” study co-author Dr. Nico Dosenbach told The Post. “They help kids who have a diagnosis of ADHD do better in school and do better on tests, and they help kids who don’t sleep enough ― and a lot of Americans don’t sleep enough.” Dosenbach, who is also a professor of neurology at Washington University, explained that the drugs may help by making boring tasks feel more rewarding. They “pre-reward our brains and allow us to keep working at things that wouldn’t normally hold our interest,” he added. ADHD affects an estimated 7 million U.S. children ages 3 to 17, and about 15.5 million adults. Rates among children rose from 6.1% in the late 1990s to more than 10% by 2016, one study found. The new study also highlighted the role of sleep. The stimulants not only helped kids with ADHD, but also children without an ADHD diagnosis who slept less than the recommended nine hours a night. But the medications didn't improve school performance in children who slept well and did not have ADHD. In short, sleep matters a lot, experts said. “Despite the name ‘Attention Deficit,’ ADHD is a multifaceted disorder in which difficulty focusing attention is just one component,” said Maggie Sweitzer , a psychiatry professor at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina, who reviewed the findings. "It’s important to remember that ADHD is not a benign condition — individuals with ADHD are not only at risk for school problems in childhood, but also for occupational, social, and physical, and mental health problems across the lifespan. For many people these medications are transformative," Sweitzer added. Jessica Lunsford-Avery , a child development and behavioral health specialist at Duke, also reacted to the findings. “Sleep disturbances are incredibly common in ADHD, impacting about 3 out of 4 children and adolescents with the disorder,” she told The Post in an email . “It is increasingly clear that clinicians and families should view ADHD as a 24-hour disorder," Lunsford-Avery added. "Unfortunately, sleep problems are rarely recognized or adequately treated in children and adolescents with ADHD.” Doctors emphasize that prescription stimulants are not the same as energy drinks or caffeine. Dr. Sinan Omer Turnacioglu of Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., noted that prescription stimulants “don’t work in the exact same way in the nervous system.” He added that healthy sleep habits such as limiting screen time before bed and having a calming routine are important. Sources The Washington Post, Jan. 6, 2026

New research connects children's genetic makeup with the development of brain tumors PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Children's National Hospital in Washington D.C. are uncovering how rare inherited genetic variants contribute to the development of brain and spinal cord tumors in children. The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, provide new insights into how a child's genetic makeup influences cancer risk and outcomes. Continue Reading Children’s National Hospital Cancers of the central nervous system (CNS) are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children, with more than 47,000 children and young adults diagnosed each year. While up to one in four children with cancer carry rare genetic variants that increase cancer risk, the specific genetic drivers of pediatric CNS tumors remain poorly understood. In this study, investigators from CHOP, Children's National, and collaborating institutions examined how pathogenic (P) and likely pathogenic (LP) germline variants influence tumor risk, biology, and patient outcomes in children with CNS tumors. Pathogenic variants are known to increase disease risk, while likely pathogenic variants are suspected to do so but lack definitive evidence. "Our research provides a foundation for identifying patients whose genetic profiles influence both cancer susceptibility and how their disease behaves — in some cases signaling a higher risk for aggressive tumors, and in others, a better chance of survival," said Sharon J. Diskin, PhD, senior author of the study and principal investigator at CHOP's Center for Childhood Cancer Research. "By understanding these risk factors and patterns, we move closer to developing more personalized, effective care for children with CNS tumors." The team analyzed blood and tumor samples from 830 children with brain or spinal cord tumors from the Pediatric Brain Tumor Atlas. By studying the DNA and other molecular features of the tumors, they looked for genetic changes present from birth — either inherited from parents or newly occurring in the child — that might make some children more likely to develop these cancers. The team then compared these changes to each child's medical record to determine whether known tumor predisposition syndromes had been previously identified. They found that nearly one in four children (23.3%) carried a genetic change in a gene known to increase cancer risk. Among all patients, 7% (57 children) had already been diagnosed with a known genetic condition linked to tumor development, while another 6% (48 children) harbored genetic changes in CNS tumor-associated genes that had not yet been clinically recognized. These findings highlight that many inherited or early arising genetic risks remain undetected in current practice, emphasizing the need for comprehensive genetic screening for children with brain and spinal cord tumors. The researchers also discovered that 35% of children with these genetic variants had additional changes in the same genes within their tumors, leading to loss of normal gene function. This pattern supports the "two hit" model of cancer development – where one genetic alteration is inherited and a second arises in the tumor – showing how inherited risk shapes tumor biology and outcomes. "We are currently expanding our study to include parental sequencing and more than doubling the number of patients," said Jo Lynne Rokita, PhD, co-senior study author and a principal investigator at Children's National's Brain Tumor Institute and Center for Cancer and Immunology Research. "This will help us better understand how inherited or early arising genetic changes interact with those that develop in the tumor, ultimately improving how we diagnose, monitor, and treat children with brain and spinal cord cancers." This work was funded in part by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants R03CA287169, R03OD036498, U24OD038422, R03CA230366, the NIH Kids First Cloud Credits Program, the Children's Brain Tumor Network, the Chad Tough Foundation, and the anonymous private investors to the Children's National Hospital Brain Tumor Institute. Corbett, RJ, Kaufman RS, et al. "Germline pathogenic variation impacts somatic alterations and patient outcomes in pediatric CNS tumors." Nat Comms. Online. Online November 21, 2025. DOI:10.1038/s41467-025-65190-4. About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: A non-profit, charitable organization, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, the hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. The institution has a well-established history of providing advanced pediatric care close to home through its CHOP Care Network, which includes more than 50 primary care practices, specialty care and surgical centers, urgent care centers, and community hospital alliances throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. CHOP also operates the Middleman Family Pavilion and its dedicated pediatric emergency department in King of Prussia, the Behavioral Health and Crisis Center (including a 24/7 Crisis Response Center) and the Center for Advanced Behavioral Healthcare, a mental health outpatient facility. Its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit . About Children's National Hospital: Children's National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., was established in 1870 to help every child grow up stronger. Today, it is one of the top 10 children's hospitals in the nation and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. Children's National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children. The Children's National Research & Innovation Campus opened in 2021, a first-of-its-kind pediatric hub dedicated to developing new and better ways to care for kids. Children's National has been designated four times in a row as a Magnet® hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty care locations in the D.C. metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia. Children's National is home to the Children's National Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation. It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels. In 1987, Children's National founded Safe Kids Worldwide, a non-profit dedicated to reducing unintentional injuries among children through comprehensive national and global education, research and advocacy. As a non-profit, Children's National relies on generous donors to help ensure that every child receives the care they need. For more information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Contact: Jennifer Lee Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (267) 426-6084 [email protected] Contact: Children's National Hospital [email protected] SOURCE Children's Hospital of Philadelphia 21% more press release views with Request a Demo

Promising study results prompt larger, federally funded, multicenter trial NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Congenital heart block, sometimes referred to as cardiac neonatal lupus, is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that affects babies born to mothers with specific autoantibodies — called anti-SSA/Ro antibodies — which can attack the fetal heart via its electrical conduction system, leading to a slower heart rate. Most surviving infants with congenital heart block eventually require a pacemaker for life. In a study of one pregnant mother with systemic lupus erythematosus and high levels of anti-SSA/Ro antibodies, NYU Langone Health researchers found a drug that blocks the movement of harmful immune proteins (autoantibodies) across the placenta and into the fetal circulation, preventing development of congenital heart block in the newborn. The researchers who treated the pregnant mother say this is the first case of using the drug, rozanolixizumab, a neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) inhibitor, to prevent congenital heart block. Publishing in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases online Oct. 18, the researchers report how they used weekly injections of rozanolixizumab, given from week 14 to 28 of the mother's pregnancy — when the fetal heart is most vulnerable. Ultrasound and at-home heart rhythm checks were used to closely monitor the fetal heartbeat. Rozanolixizumab is a monoclonal antibody drug that prevents a mother's antibodies from crossing the placental barrier by blocking FcRn receptors on the placenta. In addition to blocking placental transfer, this drug reduces autoantibody levels in the mother. During treatment, the researchers report, the autoantibody levels of the mother in the study dropped by more than half. Use of rozanolixizumab was granted under federal compassionate drug use protocols. The mother had already experienced two pregnancies complicated by congenital heart block. One baby died before birth and the other required a pacemaker shortly after birth. Researchers say study results were encouraging. The baby, a girl, was delivered at 37 weeks and weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces (2.89 kilograms). The baby had no heart complications. The mother had no serious side effects. "This single-patient study suggests the feasibility and safety of using rozanolixizumab to prevent congenital heart block in the offspring of pregnant women who are at high risk of passing along the potentially devasting autoantibodies that associate with fetal disease," said study lead investigator Philip Carlucci, MD. Carlucci is a rheumatology fellow and Colton Center for Autoimmunity – Briedenbach Scholar in the Department of Medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. "Our research offers proof-of-concept data in support of the hypothesis that no autoantibodies equals no congenital heart block," said study senior investigator Jill Buyon, MD, the Sir Deryck and Lady Va Maughan Professor of Rheumatology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine." Buyon is also the director of the Lupus Center at NYU Langone. Buyon says the study's promising results have already prompted the National Institutes of Health's Office of Autoimmune Disease Research to partner with the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to fund a multicenter trial. The investigation will be led by Buyon and study co-investigators Bettina Cuneo, at the University of Arizona in Tucson, and Justin Brandt, MD, director of maternal fetal medicine at NYU Langone and an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Called AVERT (Atrioventricular Block Elimination with Rozanolixizumab Therapy), the new investigation will enroll pregnant women who have already had a child with congenital heart block and assess whether rozanolixizumab prevents deveopment of the disease. Rozanolixizumab is currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of myasthenia gravis, a disease that leads to muscle weakness. Funding support for this study was provided by a gift from Lauren and Andy Levison, and National Institutes of Health grants R01HD100929, R01AR087521, N01AR42220, and U01AI176244. Doses of drug rozanolixizumab were provided by its manufacturer, UCB (Union Chimique Belge). Besides Carlucci, Buyon, and Brandt, Mala Masson, Peter Izmirly, Nicola Fraser, and Nalani Sachan are NYU Langone study co-investigators. Also involved in the study are co-investigators Robert Clancy at Columbia University in New York City, Angus Worthing at Arthritis and Rheumatism Associates in Washington, D.C., and Mary Donofrio at Children's National Hospital, also in Washington. About NYU Langone Health NYU Langone Health is a fully integrated health system that consistently achieves the best patient outcomes through a rigorous focus on quality that has resulted in some of the lowest mortality rates in the nation. Vizient Inc. has ranked NYU Langone No. 1 out of 118 comprehensive academic medical centers across the nation for four years in a row, and U.S. News & World Report recently ranked four of its clinical specialties No. 1 in the nation. NYU Langone offers a comprehensive range of medical services with one high standard of care across seven inpatient locations, its Perlmutter Cancer Center, and more than 320 outpatient locations in the New York area and Florida. With $15.5 billion in revenue this year, the system also includes two tuition-free medical schools, in Manhattan and on Long Island, and a vast research enterprise. Media Contact David March 212-404-3528 [email protected] STUDY LINK SOURCE NYU Langone Health System WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED