# Could a Nasal Spray Improve Social Skills? New Study on Children May Hold Clues for Aging Adults
While this study focused on children with attention problems, its findings have interesting implications for older adults experiencing social difficulties due to cognitive decline, dementia, or late-life psychiatric conditions. Many seniors struggle with understanding others’ emotions and perspectives—skills collectively called “theory of mind”—which can lead to social isolation and relationship problems. Understanding how oxytocin, often called the “bonding hormone,” affects these abilities in younger people may eventually help develop treatments for older adults facing similar challenges as their brain chemistry changes with age.
In this small pilot study, eight children diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) received either oxytocin or an inactive placebo through a nasal spray. The children then switched treatments in what’s called a crossover design, allowing each participant to experience both conditions. Testing showed that when children received oxytocin, they became faster and more consistent at recognizing emotions and understanding what others might be thinking or feeling. Importantly, no side effects were reported, suggesting this approach was safe for the participants. In a second phase, oxytocin was combined with the children’s regular ADHD medications, helping researchers understand whether this hormone could work alongside existing treatments.
For geriatric care, these preliminary findings raise intriguing possibilities. Older adults with conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, or late-life depression often experience similar difficulties reading social cues and connecting emotionally with loved ones. If oxytocin can help improve these social cognitive abilities, it might eventually offer a gentle, non-invasive option to complement existing treatments for aging patients. Families caring for elderly relatives who have become withdrawn or struggle with empathy might someday have additional tools to help maintain meaningful relationships during the later years.
However, caution is warranted. With only eight participants, this proof-of-concept study represents just the earliest step in scientific investigation. Much larger trials specifically involving older adults are essential before intranasal oxytocin could become part of geriatric psychiatric care. Still, the research opens an important door, reminding us that brain chemistry affecting social connection spans the entire lifespan—and interventions developed for one age group may eventually benefit another.
Source Information
Original Title: The effect of intranasal oxytocin on theory of mind in children with attention deficit/hyperactive disorder.
Authors: Saker T, Blechman S, Dror C, Ravona-Springer R, Ganem H
Journal: Journal of psychiatric research (Oct 2025)
PubMed ID: 41138507
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.10.031
This summary was generated using AI to make recent geriatrics and frailty research more accessible. Please refer to the original article for complete details.
