2026-01-16
microRNAs to diagnose ADHD?
Neurology
By Ana Espino | Published on January 16, 2026 | 3 min read
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children, affecting approximately 5.2% of children worldwide. Despite this high prevalence, diagnosis relies mainly on subjective clinical assessments, which can lead to diagnostic errors or delays in management.
Available treatments, although effective for some patients, are often criticized for overuse (e.g., methylphenidate), and the lack of objective biomarkers remains a major limitation in improving care. Identifying reliable biomarkers therefore represents a key challenge for refining diagnosis and enabling more targeted treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of microRNAs (miRNAs) as markers of ADHD in children and adolescents through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This study is based on a rigorous systematic review and meta-analysis including 11 publications, representing a total of 30 distinct analyses. The data cover 2,009 children or adolescents diagnosed with ADHD and 2,640 healthy controls, allowing for a robust comparative evaluation. Inclusion criteria targeted studies assessing the diagnostic value of microRNAs (miRNAs) in populations under 18 years of age, with sufficient data to calculate diagnostic accuracy measures.
Overall, miRNAs showed good diagnostic performance, with pooled sensitivity and specificity of 82% and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.89. The miRNAs miR-4763-3p, miRNA-5692b, miRNA-18a-5p, miR-137, hsa-miR-101-3p, and hsa-miR-130a-3p were particularly notable, with some exceeding 95% accuracy. Combined miRNA panels outperformed individual miRNAs in diagnostic performance. In addition, prospective studies and those using white blood cells (WBCs) as samples reported higher AUC values, suggesting avenues for optimizing future protocols.
Attention-deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity is a frequent neurodevelopmental condition whose diagnosis still largely depends on subjective clinical criteria. One of the main challenges is the absence of objective biomarkers, which limits diagnostic reliability, early intervention, and treatment personalization. In this context, this study was designed to assess the potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) as diagnostic tools for ADHD in children and adolescents.
The results indicate that several miRNAs, alone or in panels, demonstrate good diagnostic performance, with high sensitivity and specificity, supporting their potential clinical relevance.
However, important limitations remain and justify further research. Future studies should include larger multicenter cohorts, standardized measurement protocols, and exploration of miRNAs in other biological fluids such as saliva or urine. It will also be essential to validate these biomarkers in diverse populations and to integrate them into multimodal approaches, in order to develop more reliable, accessible, and personalized diagnostic tools.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children, affecting approximately 5.2% of children worldwide. Despite this high prevalence, diagnosis relies mainly on subjective clinical assessments, which can lead to diagnostic errors or delays in management.
Available treatments, although effective for some patients, are often criticized for overuse (e.g., methylphenidate), and the lack of objective biomarkers remains a major limitation in improving care. Identifying reliable biomarkers therefore represents a key challenge for refining diagnosis and enabling more targeted treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of microRNAs (miRNAs) as markers of ADHD in children and adolescents through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
miRNAs: future biomarkers for ADHD?
This study is based on a rigorous systematic review and meta-analysis including 11 publications, representing a total of 30 distinct analyses. The data cover 2,009 children or adolescents diagnosed with ADHD and 2,640 healthy controls, allowing for a robust comparative evaluation. Inclusion criteria targeted studies assessing the diagnostic value of microRNAs (miRNAs) in populations under 18 years of age, with sufficient data to calculate diagnostic accuracy measures.
Overall, miRNAs showed good diagnostic performance, with pooled sensitivity and specificity of 82% and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.89. The miRNAs miR-4763-3p, miRNA-5692b, miRNA-18a-5p, miR-137, hsa-miR-101-3p, and hsa-miR-130a-3p were particularly notable, with some exceeding 95% accuracy. Combined miRNA panels outperformed individual miRNAs in diagnostic performance. In addition, prospective studies and those using white blood cells (WBCs) as samples reported higher AUC values, suggesting avenues for optimizing future protocols.
Toward more precise ADHD diagnosis?
Attention-deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity is a frequent neurodevelopmental condition whose diagnosis still largely depends on subjective clinical criteria. One of the main challenges is the absence of objective biomarkers, which limits diagnostic reliability, early intervention, and treatment personalization. In this context, this study was designed to assess the potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) as diagnostic tools for ADHD in children and adolescents.
The results indicate that several miRNAs, alone or in panels, demonstrate good diagnostic performance, with high sensitivity and specificity, supporting their potential clinical relevance.
However, important limitations remain and justify further research. Future studies should include larger multicenter cohorts, standardized measurement protocols, and exploration of miRNAs in other biological fluids such as saliva or urine. It will also be essential to validate these biomarkers in diverse populations and to integrate them into multimodal approaches, in order to develop more reliable, accessible, and personalized diagnostic tools.
Read next: ADHD and the gut: an inflammatory duo?
About the author – Ana Espino
As a scientific writer, Ana is passionate about bridging the gap between research and real-world impact. With expertise in immunology, virology, oncology, and clinical studies, she makes complex science clear and accessible. Her mission: to accelerate knowledge sharing and empower evidence-based decisions through impactful communication.
PhD in Immunology, specialized in Virology
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