ADHD and Attention
32 associated posts. These are attributed summaries; original text remains at the linked X post and in the local archive.
- @lowmegatron · 2025-10-29 original
The author says higher coffee intake is associated with slower cognitive decline and possible protection against Alzheimer's. They quote a paper (PMID 34867277) reporting up to 8% less executive-function decline over 18 months when going from 1 to 2 cups/day, and a lower risk of progressing to MCI/Alzheimer's over 126 months. The quoted post from lowmegatron reports about 30% lower type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk at 5 cups/day.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-10-30 original
Author links coffee, cortisol and depression: 11β-HSD1 raises local cortisol, is reported as upregulated in the DLPFC in depressed people, and is said to be lowered by coffee. Author also says coffee intake is associated with lower depression risk and lower suicide risk. The quoted post separately links coffee's anti-diabetic effects to 11β-HSD1 inhibition.
Source summary and thread relationship - @nootropicguy · 2025-11-02 original
The author lists ten supplements and lifestyle measures as an alternative to Adderall for ADHD, with claimed comparisons to Ritalin, and asserts it is almost impossible not to notice benefit.
Source summary and thread relationship - @nootropicguy · 2025-11-02 own thread
nootropicguy lists 'honorable mentions' for ADHD beyond Adderall: zinc (30mg claimed to cut stimulant dose by 37%), a 36-in-1 micronutrient (benefit in 3 human trials), magnesium (claims up to 95% of ADHD kids are deficient), vitamin D (modest add-on benefit in 4 trials) and phosphatidylserine (small benefit at 200mg/day).
Source summary and thread relationship - @nootropicguy · 2025-11-02 own thread
nootropicguy says Notable Focus contains Sabroxy, Thai Ginger (enXtra) and Ginkgo, and that Notable also sells the 'strongest saffron on the market'. He recommends science bio or swisschems for bromantane (for research purposes), and Swanson for catuaba and Muira Puama, saying he was 'insanely impressed' by catuaba. A link is included.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-11-22 original
The author shares an anonymous Facebook comment, posted with permission, describing a couple's reported results from T3 thyroid hormone. The commenter reports resolution of calcification/sclerosis, myxedema, psoriasis, PMDD and high cholesterol, among other changes. The quoted post from lowmegatron discusses high-dose T4 in bipolar depression.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2025-12-27 original
The author says T4/levothyroxine is not thyroid hormone and that high doses of T4 alone can reduce tissue T3 even if labs look fine, supported by a Ray Peat quote. The quoted post is an anecdotal Facebook testimonial reporting many improvements after switching to T3.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-02-02 original
Young children with higher-'normal' TSH show lower cognitive function and higher ADHD symptoms despite being within normal range; study suggests need to re-evaluate TSH upper limit for normal in preschoolers.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-02-02 original
Ray Peat on oxygen metabolism impairment in ADHD, with coffee as focus aid, plus cited human and animal studies on cerebral oxygen/glucose metabolism in hypothyroidism and TSH association with cognitive function in preschoolers.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-02-27 original
T3 thyroid hormone improves ADHD in children with resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH), a condition affecting up to 3/4 of ADHD children; children with higher TSH (lower thyroid hormones) score higher on ADHD testing; in double-blind crossover trial, L-T3 benefited 5/8 RTH+ADHD children but not most ADHD-only children.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-01 original
Author presents case study of woman with treatment-resistant depression who failed multiple antidepressants but recovered with thyroid hormone T3, arguing active thyroid hormone is essential for brain metabolism reduced in depression; includes clinical findings showing improvement within 4 weeks.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-03 original
Author presents personal anecdotes from two users (husband and wife) reporting dramatic health improvements from switching to T3 thyroid hormone including water weight loss, temperature normalization, resolution of psoriasis, reproductive function recovery, PMDD reversal, mood stabilization, and histamine reduction; pairs with experimental animal data showing hypothyroidism increases mast cells and histamine.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-06 original
People with thyroid hormone resistance (RTH) have elevated rates of multiple conditions including goiter, ADHD, speech impediment, infections and hearing loss, typically linked to THRB gene mutations. Thyroid hormone resistance means tissue unresponsiveness despite high hormone levels due to defective thyroid hormone receptor beta.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-03-07 original
Repost sharing user experiences of T3 thyroid hormone therapy. Two people report multiple improvements including weight loss, temperature normalization, resolution of psoriasis, return of ovulation, reversal of PMDD and emotional symptoms, reversal of Raynaud's, cholesterol normalization, discontinuation of ADHD medication, and resolution of histamine-related symptoms. Study cited showing experimental hypothyroidism increases mast cells and histamine in rats.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-02 original
Author describes L-theanine, a natural tea constituent, as inducing calm focused state via increased alpha brain waves. Defines alpha waves (meditation, relaxed wakefulness, reduced mental effort). Cites research showing L-theanine significantly increases alpha frequency band indicating mental relaxation without drowsiness and affects attention. Embedded quote from lowmegatron lists extensive L-theanine benefits including mast cell stabilization, stress/anxiety/depression reduction, sleep and cognitive improvement, and immune/inflammatory markers.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-17 original
Ray Peat explains that stress, infection, aging, and various compounds can lower TSH independent of thyroid hormones, creating diagnostic confusion. Embedded quote details how chronic stress suppresses T3 conversion while also lowering TSH, misleading thyroid assessment.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-04-24 original
Reports 1990s animal research finding pregnenolone several hundred times more potent than tested memory enhancers, with mechanism via transcription facilitation. Cites human studies showing pregnenolone improves memory and pregnenolone augmentation improves attention/working memory in schizophrenia patients. Embedded post on thyroid hormone correlation with memory in depressed patients, showing levothyroxine treatment resolved multiple symptoms including failing memory.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-05-04 original
Author quotes Ray Peat on thyroid and eczema/psoriasis mechanism, includes personal Facebook testimony of 30-year psoriasis resolution on T3, cites Hashimoto's prevalence in psoriasis patients, and embeds prior detailed personal experience post on T3 benefits across multiple conditions.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-05-27 original
Hypothyroidism and low thyroid hormone activity cause ADHD. Research shows higher TSH within normal range correlates with ADHD symptoms in preschoolers; thyroid hormone resistance increases ADHD risk by 60%; T3 improves ADHD specifically in children with thyroid hormone resistance but may be detrimental in those without resistance.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-05-27 original
ADHD and hypothyroidism share mechanisms of decreased oxidative metabolism, lowered ATP and CO2 in the brain. Increasing CO2 may improve ADHD as demonstrated in rodent experiments and case reports. Acetazolamide, which increases CO2 by inhibiting carbonic anhydrase, improved ADHD symptoms in a case report and reduced ADHD-linked behaviors in mice; T3 increases oxidative metabolism and CO2 production.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-05-27 own thread
lowmegatron quotes Ray Peat on impaired brain oxygen metabolism and attention deficit, with coffee improving focus. He says type 2 diabetes and epilepsy are linked to 2-5 times higher ADHD diagnosis. He adds a disclaimer that this is an explainer on thyroid hormone and CO2 in ADHD, not a prescription to take acetazolamide, and advises checking contraindications and speaking with a doctor. He lists three references: a case report, a rat study and a rat hypothyroidism study.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-06-20 original
Quoted testimonial: T3 thyroid hormone reversed calcification, myxedema, and water weight (50 pounds), normalized body temperature from 96.4 to 98.6°F, cleared 30-year psoriasis, restored ovulation, resolved severe PMDD and emotional symptoms, improved cholesterol and Raynaud's in spouse who also discontinued 25-year ADHD medication. Embedded source post links hypothyroidism to 4.5x increased mast cells and 50% increased histamine.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-07-27 original
Research on thyroid hormone (T3) regulation of exploratory behavior in animals and psychiatric symptoms in humans with thyroid dysfunction; study showing cortical T3 induces exploratory and risk-taking behavior in mice. Embedded post by lowmegatron discusses thyroid hormone decline effects on memory and depression treatment outcomes using levothyroxine.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-02 original
Author reports anecdotal list of health outcomes observed in some patients using thyroid hormone (T3): weight loss (50 lbs), histamine dysregulation resolution, psoriasis clearance, ovulation restoration, PMDD remission, Raynaud's disappearance, ADHD medication discontinuation, post-nasal drip cessation, calcification/sclerosis reversal, myxedema reversal, and elevated body temperature (2 degrees). No mechanistic explanation provided; framed as variable individual responses.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-07 original
10-week RCT of 70 children with autism comparing risperidone alone vs risperidone plus PEA (palmitoylethanolamide); PEA group showed greater improvement in irritability (46% vs 31%) and hyperactivity (27% vs 11%); PEA action attributed to glutamate/neuroinflammation reduction and suspected mast cell stabilization.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-08-09 original
Author claims 70% of focus/mood/motivation complaints stem from dopamine receptor downregulation via chronic stimulation rather than ADHD or depression; proposes dopamine fasting and reduced stimulation as treatment.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-08-15 original
Pine bark extract (Pycnogenol) improved ADHD symptoms by 61% in randomized controlled trial. Multi-mechanism action through endothelial nitric oxide stimulation. Evidence across 450+ published studies for ADHD, cardiovascular health, cognitive function, skin aging, joint pain, diabetes, and erectile dysfunction. Dosage 100-200mg daily; cost $15-25 monthly. Author positions as superior to prescription alternatives at lower cost.
Source summary and thread relationship - @1immortals1 · 2026-08-18 original
Author reports cold water immersion study showed 250% plasma dopamine increase lasting hours, contrasting with cocaine/nicotine crash pattern. Describes mechanism via norepinephrine and brown fat activation, brown fat's insulin sensitivity benefits, and minimal protocol of 11 minutes weekly cold exposure across 4-5 sessions.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-21 original
Experiment showing that paying attention to histamine skin reaction produces smaller inflammatory response and faster recovery than distracted control. 57 healthy volunteers underwent histamine prick test twice: once with attention, once distracted. Bump was roughly 1.5x smaller with attention; 90% showed this pattern. Mechanism involves vagal/interoceptive signaling rather than stress reduction.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-24 original
Glucose metabolism is reduced in ADHD-related brain regions; hypothyroidism and thyroid hormone resistance impair brain glucose metabolism; TSH within normal range but elevated correlates with ADHD symptoms and reduced cognitive function in preschoolers; thyroid hormone supplementation restores glucose metabolism in brain regions affected by hypothyroidism.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-24 original
Ray Peat quoted on risks of stimulant medications (Ritalin, amphetamines): associated with lymphoma, adrenaline stress, global brain disruption, and chronic use causing brain damage and shrinkage.
Source summary and thread relationship - @lowmegatron · 2026-08-28 original
Thyroid hormone and thiamine improve memory and cognition by enhancing glucose utilization in the brain. Emotional arousal also increases glucose availability via stress hormones. Relationship breaks down in diabetes/insulin resistance where high blood glucose correlates with lower glucose oxidation.
Source summary and thread relationship