ADHD is NOT a neurological type.
You are NOT an elite hunter-gatherer, you are metabolically impaired.
You have insufficient energy levels in your brain.
It actually takes a lot of brain energy to be able to relax or focus. Anxiety, restlessness, excitation come from a state of insufficient energy.
ADHD in children is related to the energy levels in the brain. The frontal lobes of the brain, which are responsible for planning and understanding complex tasks that require prolonged attention, have a very high energy requirement.
When these parts of the brain do not receive sufficient energy, children and animals can become hyperactive and unable to concentrate.
Ray Peat explains that stimulants like Ritalin (methylphenidate) and caffeine temporarily raise the energy level of the brain, making individuals more attentive and focused.
This is why Ritalin is often prescribed for hyperactive children, as it helps them to quietly pay attention.
However, Peat notes that this effect is not paradoxical from a scientific physiology perspective; it is simply a matter of providing the brain with the energy it needs to function properly.
We don’t want to feed Ritalin to children, obviously, so what should we do?
Well… Thyroid hormones play a crucial role in maintaining high energy levels in the brain. If these hormones are deficient, the nerves require stimulants to function normally, and the body produces large amounts of adrenaline to keep going, which can result in tiredness and tension simultaneously.
To address ADHD, Ray Peat suggested ensuring that the brain has a consistent supply of energy.
This can be achieved by correcting hypothyroidism, which often involves dietary changes or taking a thyroid supplement.
By increasing the rate of energy production, the brain can maintain a high energy level, reducing hyperactivity and improving concentration.
As someone rightfully pointed out, it is obviously a disorder if fixing energy metabolism fixes it.