The global prevalence of adult Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is steadily rising. In most cases, undiagnosed childhood ADHD manifests as adult ADHD. Its neurological intricacies, coupled with comorbid conditions and individual differences in symptom expressions, along with cultural complexities, often complicate the diagnostic and therapeutic models. The limitations of the existing therapies limit the generalizability of the traditional intervention’s effectiveness. Trends in recent studies suggest the need to identify bio-cognitive markers of adult ADHD and develop a non-pharmacological intervention for the management of ADHD-related challenges. Research shows the association of bio-cognitive markers, such as increased activity in theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands at occipital and parietal brain areas, with comorbid conditions of depression and anxiety. Brainwave oscillations, particularly the alpha band, are often used as a discriminatory bio-cognitive marker between typically developing cases and those with ADHD across attention and working memory tasks. Interestingly, modulation of brainwave oscillations using brainwave entrainment (BWE) has also received prominence in promoting recovery through neural changes. Given its additional efficiency in reducing other psychological challenges like anxiety and depression, it is believed that BWE has the scope to manage the cognitive dysfunctions of adult ADHD. Thus, premise on the possible future of brainwave-based diagnosis and treatment for adult ADHD rests on two major research findings: a) brainwave-led biomarkers suggest neuronal differences between typically developing individuals and those with ADHD, and b) the promising results of brainwave interventions in improving cognition in these cases. Hence, in the current paper, we speculate on the scope of using brainwaves at the crossroads of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for adult ADHD. Our observations provide a future research framework on adult ADHD prognosis and enable subsequent symptom management.

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