ADHD: What happens in the body?
People with ADHD present special neurochemical and neurobiological features. More precisely, with ADHD, the balance in messenger substances in the brain (neurotransmitters) is altered.
ADHD: Dopamine and noradrenaline are significant
The neurotransmitters noradrenaline and dopamine in particular are crucially important in connection with ADHD:
Noradrenaline and dopamine are not available in sufficient quantities where they are needed.
This causes the transmission of signals to be disturbed.
The interaction of the attention system and motivation system is impaired.
Background: Why is dopamine in short supply with ADHD?
People with ADHD experience faster degradation of dopamine in the brain.
But why is this?
Experts quote the following facts:
- In people with ADHD, less blood sugar is used in the front sections of the brain – therefore, less blood flows to the brain area.
- The front-right part of the brain area is less active.
- An increased amount of the "dopamine transporter" and a genetic change in the "dopamine transporter gene" have been detected.
Good to know:
The aim of medications for treating ADHD is to have a positive effect on metabolism in the brain and thus alleviate the symptoms.