SEE THE FIRST PINNED POST. I don't know why this is so squashed and every time I edit it reverts back to still being squashed.

Question of the day really and what is on my mind. We are increasingly learning more and more about ADHD. I see a lot of research requests landing in the box, which is no surprise the way ADHD attention (excuse the pun) has increased the last few years.

Mine is a bit left-field, but I honestly believe a high % of people with ADHD do not look their age and younger. One example, Ren. I have no idea how this guy is approaching his mid 30s.

I'd like to see more around joint-hypermobility too. Dr James Kustow has explored this if you fancy a deep dive, but he noticed in his practice that so many h ADHD (and some papers note ASD since I think) come with Joint hypermobility syndrome. The better we can understand why this is and more research, we can then start looking, and questioning, why ADHD (and ASD) have these physical elements: and it somewhat validates us that ADHD is indeed real, bcos y'know, it often comes with physical problems* (*to be further confirmed by research in the future, I predict!)

There also research sitting there for someone or institution look at the way online communities have become the navigation service of the NHS which the NHS itself should be providing. I'm proud this place introduces this place to Right to Choose and answers so many questions daily, but really, should we be the place? Especially when over years the same questions are asked again and again. GPs and nurses should know the answers. Instead there is quite the opposite and often pushback, and people land here.

So, what is yours? Even if it is just a theory, keen to hear it!

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The past few weeks have made one thing clear to me... this community isn't just big... it has power and influence, if we use it correctly and work together as a team. We are one of most clicked on websites for ADHD in UK - heck, probably even Europe.

That is not just me saying it; it is based on contact, and our data. Clinicians, researchers, organisations and platforms are reaching out to us - concerned about their reputation, or wanting to work together.. Hundreds of you have expressed interest with with ideas, skills, and actual time to give previously.

I'm aware that time comes and goes, you may disappear, you may get RSD... I've seen it all, and made good friends through this!. I'm aware you have ADHD! Motivation and caring is the important factor here; not time. But lets use our influence together and the power that there is here, be that promoting more ethics approved researchers, apps that need testers/feedback (and fit our ethical standard), and trying understand what the landscape of ADHD in the UK needs at this precise moment.

So what are we doing?

• Using the platform actively to shape how ADHD in the UK gets discussed; not waiting for someone else to frame it
• Engaging clinics, ethical platforms, and organisations properly
• Ensuring it is our terms, transparently, in a way that serves this community first; not the other way around
• Turning lived experience into real-world weight

There is a gap between what people with ADHD are actually going through and what shows up in media, policy, and services.

We’re in a position to close it, or change it... not by shouting; by being organised, research heavy, and credible.

So who do we need?

You don't need a CV or a title. Or prior moderation experience. You need to actually care for growing the Discord, AutoMod/coding experience helps, but wanting to create something that you, I, and everyone here is proud of is how is this started and how it will continue.

We want diversity in our team, and lived experience matters - so do apply :)) You get to work with a chaotic team of ADHDers if nothing else.

NON-UK... but genuinely fascinating because of the scale involved here. I hope our universities and Schools of Medicine are doing similar.

Researchers at Duke University School of Medicine trained an AI model on the health records of over 720,000 children and found it could predict future ADHD diagnoses years before formal assessment.

The system looked at things like:

• sleep patterns

• speech delays

• behavioural/emotional difficulties

• healthcare visits

• developmental history

Apparently by age 5 it could predict likelihood of an ADHD diagnosis within the next few years with very high accuracy. Interesting part for me is less the AI hype and more what this could mean for earlier support instead of kids only being identified once school problems become obvious. My thinking if even if the AI is wrong, identifying the solutions could still be helpful - with or without diagnosis.

It does, however, raise huge questions around:

• ethics

• bias in datasets

• over-medicalisation

• whether systems like this help families or just flag more unmet need...

Interested to hear thoughts.

Full article: https://www.azernews.az/region/258037.html

I just read this article from the Isle of Man about adults paying hundreds for ADHD/autism assessments because they’re stuck waiting years for support.

This is becoming normal across the UK now and increasingly creates a class divide when it comes to ADHD.

People aren’t going private because it is trendy or easy. Most are doing it because they’ve hit a wall and just want answers, stability, or a chance to function properly again, but then face barriers when they receive the 'private' diagnosis often too.

The line 'I feel stuck' probably sums up the experience of thousands of people right now.

That is the real issue for me that I see constantly here: not just diagnosis delays, but how alone people feel trying to navigate everything afterwards and during - and I guess why, in part, this place exists.

https://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/i-feel-stuck-adults-paying-hundreds-to-fund-their-own-adhd-and-autism-diagnosis-902478

Hi all,

I realise there is another post but that is a crosspost from another sub and payed welel. We should probably post the source too:

https://institute.global/insights/public-services/an-emergency-handbrake-for-uk-welfare-stabilising-spending-supporting-people

"Sir Tony Blair has called for a block on people with anxiety, depression and ADHD from claiming benefits, highlighting a growing rift within Labour over welfare reform…"

A lot of women are only discovering ADHD in their 40s–50s. It is not because ADHD suddenly appears; it’s because menopause can make it harder to ignore.

Link: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/adhd-menopause-link-explained_uk_69ea1477e4b0bb584bc96158

What’s happening:

• Oestrogen affects dopamine (attention, focus, regulation)
• During menopause, oestrogen drops → ADHD symptoms can get worse
• Brain fog, forgetfulness, overwhelm: overlap with menopause symptoms

Why it shows up now:
Many women have spent years masking with structure and overcompensation. Menopause disrupts that, so underlying ADHD becomes more visible.

Women are still underdiagnosed. This overlap is often missed or mislabelled as anxiety or stress.There is very little UK research on how menopause interacts with ADHD pathways or diagnosis; especially in NHS and Right to Choose systems.