

For those who struggle with ADHD, the round pegs trying to fit into square holes, one of the bleakest aspects of daily life is the belief that things will always be this way and cannot be improved. Epigenetic research is telling us more and more that this belief is false. Nigg reports, “Some changes, like reducing the amount of TV a child watches each day, have very small effects on ADHD symptoms — only slightly noticeable in a family’s everyday life. Others, like increasing omega-3 intake or introducing an exercise regimen, have significantly larger effect sizes — up to twice or three times as large as reducing screen time.

This research is part of a bigger philosophical debate as to the true nature of ADHD. That ongoing conversation is considering whether ADHD is truly a dysfunction or just a difference in function that our society has a hard time adapting to. More on that another time. In the meantime, check out Dr. Nigg’s whole article and join the ADDitude Magazine family to get more crucial information that will help you to make sense of it all.