What is neurodivergence?
Neurodivergent generally describes someone whose brain has developed differently. This would include autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia and Tourette syndrome. So that I don't have to type that list every time, let's settle on the word neurodivergent for now.
How is nutrition linked to neurodivergence?
Just to be clear from the outset, what someone eats won't make them neurodivergent. Autism and ADHD, for example, are neurological differences with multifactorial causes from birth.
There isn't a huge amount of primary research into nutrition and neurodivergence, however Autism and ADHD have the most scientific studies available, so these two conditions will be the main focus of this website. As further research becomes available, I'll update the site with further conditions.
That said, there is enough scientific evidence to show that what we eat (I'm autistic too) can affect our physical and mental wellbeing and may help with some of the challenges we face.
What challenges?
As autistic adults, we face a higher statistical likelihood than neurotypicals of having certain conditions [1], including anxiety, autoimmune disorders, obesity, and gastrointestinal difficulties (including a higher likelihood of being coeliac). Obesity, allergies, and type 2 diabetes are also common in ADHD[2], along with sleep disturbances, fatigue, and if taking medication, a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Other recent studies have considered the evidence suggesting an altered gut microbiome in autism[3], resulting in digestive disturbances.
All of above conditions can be helped (as in avoided or managed) by the foods we choose to eat. The way I look at it is this: if changing the way I eat can reduce the discomfort of or likelihood of developing a common associated condition, then it's worth the effort. Being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world isn't always easy, trying to do so while managing multiple health conditions is overwhelming.
The barriers we face
For many, seeing a loaf of crusty bread would make their mouth water. For me, I virtually shiver just looking at it. I hate the texture of crusts in my mouth, just writing this is making me feel nauseated. While healthy eating can be a challenge for anyone, when we're neurodivergent then we may have a few extra barriers to overcome.
A sensory disorder, common in autism and with ADHD, can make certain tastes and textures physically repulsive - like crusts on bread for me. This can lead to avoiding foods and a restrictive eating plan (ARFID), resulting in health problems.
Other barriers to maintaining healthy eating may include:
A strong need for routine can make changing to a new food regime challenging.
Dysfunctional executive function can make planning meals, shopping for food, and cooking very difficult as a neurodivergent adult.
Dysregulation of dopaminergic reward systems in ADHD can make regulating food intake a struggle.
How will this site help you?
I want everyone to be able to enjoy healthy eating and I understand first-hand some of the obstacles we have to overcome to make that a reality. My aim is to make this website a hub for reliable, scientifically accurate information about what to eat, and include practical tips on how to make healthy eating easy.
There's no video yet, but for those of you with dyslexia, I'm working on a more accessible version of the information, so watch this space!
Footnotes
Micai M et al, Prevalence of co-occurring conditions in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Volume 155, 2023, 105436, ISSN 0149-7634(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105436)
Faraone SV et al. The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 Evidence-based conclusions about the disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Sep;128:789-818.(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.022)
Taniya MA et al. Role of Gut Microbiome in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Its Therapeutic Regulation. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022 Jul 22;12:915701.(https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2022.915701)