to wonder if a lot of adult ADHD is actually neuroinflammation?

[sportio]

Before anyone has a canary I have an adult diagnosis of ADHD myself and have been both medicated and unmedicated. However the more research I do the more I keep hearing about neuroinflammation. The symptoms of neuroinflammation are very much a match for those of ADHD and modern western lifestyles are for the most part a one way ticket to neuroinflammation.

Looking at medications they often work as a kind of brute force for executive function but they do nothing to address any underlying neuroinflammation. I am not on any medication at all now due to side effects but I am finding addressing neuroinflammation things like diet, lifestyle, sleep and exercise and supplements really helpful although it is early days for me I do like the idea of tackling the root causes.

Has anyone else explored this?

Presumably you had ADHD as a child ( albeit undiagnosed at that time) so how would you explain that?

I feel skeptical about this for 2 reasons.

-It puts the ‘fault’ on the person experiencing the difficulties. Rather than it being genetic. It is essentially another way of saying, if only you ate healthier you wouldn’t have ADHD. That’s really damaging.

-I have a child with ADHD. She was born with it. I know this because we had difficulties from a very young age and she is the carbon copy of her dad, who has it. It’s genetic.

There's a fair bit of research that links Neuro inflammation to all sorts of neurological and psychiatric conditions so it wouldn't surprise me if there was a link. I don't have adhd but I have chronic migraines which is also apparently linked to Neuro inflammation, I think it can cause all sorts of problems.

Yes I did have traits and was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child. However neuroinflammation is also still possible in children I grew up in the 80's and existed on a diet of freezer shop processed food and sugar, I wasn't breastfed, my mum was a heavy smoker and we were poor and my parents were very stressed about money most of the time. So it is very possible I had neuroinflammation as a child.

I also suffer with migraines

It’s an interesting question because some of the research being done on Mounjaro right now is about how it seems to have a positive effect on those with ADHD, and one of the things it does is reduce inflammation. It’s why they also think it might be beneficial to those with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s etc.

I think adult ADHD and cognitive overload share a lot of similarities. Women who are in their 40s having to deal with the mental loads of full time work, household management, children's schedules and needs, elderly parents etc. Not surprising that 100 plates get dropped and you feel scatty as hell.

But that's why the psychologist diagnosing will look at different settings and childhood experiences.

That interesting, maybe it is all linked. I've been trying to find something that could help with my migraines as I've not had much luck with the usual pain killers which was how I came across the neuro inflammation stuff

The genetic link could be one of susceptibility though. So yes, it’s genes and yes, it’s neurinflammation.

I don't think it does, its not your fault if it is a product of the culture in which you live is it? It takes a massive effort to reduce the things that cause inflammation even if you are aware of them. Its also known that things that reduce inflammation in the brain also help ADHD symptoms in children and in adults. I'm not saying their is no genetic component but that its not sole cause. I actually think some of the differences in ADHD individuals can be a gift but not if we are so disabled by brain inflammation that we can't utilise those gifts! The stimulant medications for example helped my power though tasks and get stuff done but they also blunted my creativity and made my migraines much worse.

I think you are making lots of assumptions. Which is fine but I’m uncomfortable with it.

like, if we are talking about diet and food causing inflammation then that’s assuming that ADHD did not exist prior to modern diet and the evidence shows that’s not true.

For example Saffron has been shown to be as effective as Ritalin in treating ADHD in children. Saffron is not a stimulant but it is very effective in reducing neuroinflammation and massively improving executive function. Unlike stimulant medication it doesn't work quickly it takes several weeks to work but it is treating what is closer to the underlying cause rather that forcing the brain to "work better" with stimulants.

But neuro inflammation or other medical problems aren't the fault of the person suffering from them. I know many people like to blame others for their ill health but that doesnt make it true, I think much of the the reason people behave that way is a fear reaction, if they blame others for their own ill health they can think 'that will never happen to me'.

I agree with you but also worry about people who take this sort of thinking and run with it. See, Joe Wicks.

@sportio look into Pandas/Pans very much related

ds13 has adhd and although supplements did help they didn’t bring him to the level that drugs did sadly . Pandas route was explored too but more tricky to deal with

overall agree with you on the inflammation side - we all take curcumin/turmeric daily as a family 😂

What does Joe wicks do? The name rings a bell but I can't think who he is?

I just feel that before I was diagnosed and even after I just felt very powerless and that I needed the medication because I was defective without it. Its just how I am, I couldn't help it and so on. and I was defensive of my need for medication. However after being on various meds and experiencing the downsides and then looking more into it I actually felt more empowered, that I could find a way to reap all the benefits of an ADHD brain while improving my brain health. Lets not forget that ADHD is also shaping up to be a risk factor for dementia of all kinds.

I think if we or our kids have adhd we should be serious about our brain health and reducing inflammation.

Off topic, but I looked up ‘what does having a canary mean’ and inevitably had to wade through a page of AI slop about caring for pet birds before I got to the bottom of it. 🤣

That’s good- I’m glad it is helping you. I worry about my ADHD daughter a lot and it is nice to hear of people appreciating the positive sides too.

I think this is definitely true I saw an interview with a female menopause specialist where she specifically addressed this and the fact that many women seeks ADHD diagnosis in their 40's and the effects of lower oestrogen in the brain and women's increased risk of dementia as well as the extra burdens many woman have at that age.

Ah I can’t remember the full thing but he said something about people with ADHD just need to stop eating sugar. Along those lines.

So what should we be supplementing or avoiding?

Look up James Kustow, OP - he has written on ADHD and inflammation recently

@Triffid14 I think it is more complex than that but also I have found that eating a low GI diet with few or no processed foods does really help me more than I could have ever imagined.

@Oftenaddled Thank you I will!