Lab Report: Health, Science and Medicine

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What's Driving Energy Drinks

Gulping down an energy drink like Red Bull may rev you up temporarily, but it could also give you a dangerous jolt. Most of these beverages, which are considered dietary supplements, rely on caffeine to boost metabolism, but levels of the stimulant are not regulated in these drinks. Earlier studies found that one energy drink may contain as much caffeine as 14 cans of caffeinated soda.

ADHD DIAGNOSES

As the incidence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) continues to surge, two studies suggest some symptoms may be due simply to immaturity. Comparing ADHD diagnoses among kids whose birthdays fell on either side of age-eligibility cutoffs for kindergarten, one study found that young-for-their-grade kids were twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD as those who were old for their grade.