When people talk about Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD–an older term) or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD), especially if they are parents or teachers, they are usually thinking of this as a childhood disorder, somewhat more prevalent among boys than girls. And so it is, but kids with ADD or ADHD don’t always grow out of this.
While the prevalence of ADD or ADHD in adults is lower than in children nearly 60% of school-aged children with ADHD continue to experience symptoms into adulthood.(*)
Moreover, In adults, the diagnosis of ADHD commonly coexists with other psychiatric diagnoses including mood disorders and substance use disorder. Several studies have shown a strong connection between ADHD, drug abuse and alcoholism. ADHD is five to 10 times more common among adult alcoholics, and illegal drug usage.
Additionally, kids with ADHD usually get involved with alcohol or illegal drugs much earlier than their peers, and are more likely to overdose.
These statistics make it quite apparent that individuals correctly diagnosed as having ADHD, are usually lacking something in their body chemistry or structure. It’s not just a behavioral problem.
Actually the pathogenesis of ADHD likely involves both biological and environmental factors. Genetics are thought to play an important role as children born to parents with ADHD have an increased risk of developing the condition. There is also some evidence that brain chemistry, structure and/or function is perturbed in ADHD. For instance, alterations in brain networks and chemistry that govern attention and emotion have been observed in patients with ADHD. (*)
Mainstream medicine relies heavily upon powerful stimulant drugs from the amphetamine drug class (e.g, Adderall) and methylphenidate (e.g, Ritalin) to treat ADHD symptoms. For many people these have been quite helpful in organizing thought processes. However, these are not ideal for several reasons, including the fact that methylphenidate may induce lipid damage in certain brain regions and may cause abnormalities in the developing brain. Stimulant ADHD drugs may cause other side effects as well, such as growth suppression, sleep problems, loss of appetite, and increased blood pressure and heart rate. There are also concerns about their contribution to the development of substance use disorders. (*)
The good news is that several synergistic dietary and behavioral interventions have been developed and proven helpful in maintaining focus and attention. For example, supplementation with fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium as well as undergoing neurofeedback therapy have been shown to be extraordinarily effective in helping individuals affected by ADHD.
Certain nutritional tools like zinc, B-vitamins and vitamin D, have also been shown to improve outcomes, even on lower doses of meds, when taken in conjunction with pharmaceutical treatments.(*) We will explore some of the most effective of such combo’s below.
*- See references for studies noted in these paragraphs at https://www.lifeextension.com/protocols/emotional-health/attention-deficit-hyperactivity#
