Is it Dementia or ADHD? Understanding the overlap

Is "Neuro-Radar" Real?

Is it possible to know that someone has ADHD or autism just by looking at them? It turns out, people do seem to have a sixth sense that consistently detects ADHD and autism. In this episode, we explore the physical “tells” that might be giving us away and how this impacts the lives of ADHD and autistic people. Due to character limits, we couldn't paste all the source links, but you can find them in this doc: Sources doc (with all links) [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tqT9n-MDOm1FUKmR0jdIAG8NqHR0vvcvkoQ8z_GE1K8/edit?usp=sharing] Below is a guide covering how local anesthesia is ineffective with hypermobility. Please use this and show it to your doctors. It's scary stuff, and you deserve to not feel pain during procedures. ***IMPORTANT!!! Guide to local anesthesia and surgery for hypermobility*** [https://www.notjustbendy.com/blog/surgical-management-eds-hypermobility/]

Is Francesca Bridgerton Autistic?

Dearest Gentle Reader, rarely is society faced with such a vexing debate over a member of “The Ton”. Could it be that Miss Francesca Bridgerton is autistic? This author will humbly endeavor to set the record straight, not through gossip and speculation, but through science and fact. It is our greatest wish that in your journey to understand Miss Francesca, you discover yourself, for this, dear reader, would make the fruits of our labor worthwhile, indeed. Sources: * Tony Attwood [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfOHnt4PMFo] * Francesca Autistic Compilation [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ71ZP07PA0] * Francesca Compilation [https://youtu.be/Ly2ZAZ5tVF8?si=aplA7GSFtPnOq3Cz] * Autistic adult brains name recognition [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180129145835.htm] * Different emotional facial expressions [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260118233549.htm] * Double empathy problem [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1362361320919286] * Eye contact triggers amygdala [https://www.psypost.org/eye-contact-avoidance-in-autism-may-stem-from-abnormal-sensitivity-of-brains-threat-processing-system-study-suggests/] * GABA and Glutamate [https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1587432/full] * The theory of monotropism [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12586063/] * Most common special interests [https://research.vu.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/72579810/Grove_et_al_2018_Autism_Research.pdf] * What causes special interests? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmur0Ts3uAg] * Autistic women more vulnerable [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8992810/] * Thalamus explains sensory issues [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10755010/] * Autistic people have weaker autobiographical memory [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313111388_A_developmental_psychopathology_perspective_on_autobiographical_memory_in_autism_spectrum_disorder] * Fear of being perceived [https://neurosparkhealth.com/masking/fear-of-being-perceived#What_Does_the_Fear_of_Being_Perceived_Feel_Like] * Debunking the Empathy/Systemizing Quotient in autism [https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/eTHvMqxaLsrxtRLq3/empathy-systemizing-quotient-is-a-poor-biased-model-for-the] * Autistic adults enjoy being in the same space without direct interaction [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11317800/] * Study on autistic special interests [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11937755/#s023] * CAT-Q Autism Assessment [https://embrace-autism.com/cat-q/]

Is it love or limerence?

You know that “new crush” feeling where your heart is pounding and you've got butterflies in your stomach? It can feel exhilarating! But imagine if you got stuck in a loop where you experience it every single day for years. Suddenly, it becomes a little less fun. This is the plight of people suffering from limerence, where you become addicted to your own fantasies of being in a relationship with someone who is unavailable in real life.  So how do you know if it's love or limerence? In today's episode, we'll break down all the ways you can tell the difference. Curious what causes limerence? We dive into the neuroscience behind it in our previous episode “Why do ADHDers get addicted?” Sources: * What causes limerence? [https://youtu.be/zPGjSUokBKM?si=v8PO2suth7IGWDeU] * Dr. Kirk Honda's limerence deep-dive [https://youtu.be/LX1wyEThEGU?si=aKMk0KyVn6866LjG] * Dr. Tom Bellamy's limerence introduction [https://youtu.be/G1kpCs2nC3k?si=ws61cgYnhw0-PB5q] * Dr. Tom Bellamy’s YouTube channel about limerence [https://youtube.com/@drtombellamy?si=OKuOTL16DHD1U8vu]  * Limerence meta analysis [https://youtube.com/@drtombellamy?si=OKuOTL16DHD1U8vu] * Dr. Kirk Honda's borderline personality disorder deep-dive [https://youtu.be/InOYnbP3ExE?si=FmrZA9DqtWVB-9V4] * Dr. Kirk Honda's Baby Reindeer deep-dive [https://youtu.be/rJBNMWjZRPc?si=QYOlTjqI0IBUN318] * OCD vs ADHD and Autism [https://youtu.be/CHIAmbvjOK0?si=xW5yY0-IZLfW-UWk]

Why do ADHDers get addicted?

We all know people with ADHD are more prone to addictions like gambling, alcoholism, and substance abuse. But what if you could be addicted to your own fantasies? And how do addictions form in the first place? In this two part episode, we’re examining limerence, a condition where you become addicted to compulsive, consuming fantasies about a romantic relationship with someone who does not express interest in you. In order to truly grasp limerence, you need to understand the neuroscience behind addiction, which is the topic of this episode. We take an in-depth look at the brain changes that occur when you become addicted to something, and we explore why ADHD brains are exceptionally vulnerable. This episode will help you understand ADHD struggles on a whole new level! Give us a listen, and be sure to come back for the second part of this special, where we tackle the precise symptoms of limerence and the conditions it's commonly mistaken for.  Sources: * Dr. Kirk Honda's deep dive on limerence [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/limerence-deep-dive-chapter-1-i-was-wrong--68573416] * Addiction neuroscience research with Professor Kent Berridge [https://youtu.be/nmZLViTldtM?si=evz_HdeyNF5k1H76] * Understanding addiction and how it's treated [https://youtu.be/bwZcPwlRRcc?si=NDSlsssN9uz7IXSn] * Statistics about ADHD and addiction [https://rehabsuk.com/blog/adhd-triples-risk-of-substance-abuse-but-it-doesn-t-have-to/]  * The overlapping neurobiology of addiction in ADHD [https://www.oatext.com/The-overlapping-neurobiology-of-addiction-and-ADHD.php] * Research on ADHD and low hedonic tone [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/NDT.S111818#d1e114] * Research on ADHD and attachment styles [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7690371/]  * General information about attachment style [https://www.attachmentproject.com/blog/four-attachment-styles/] * ADHD and divorce rates [https://www.addrc.org/are-divorce-rates-higher-for-couples-with-adhd/]

Is it Dementia or ADHD? Understanding the overlap

Diagnosis rates are rising, and people everywhere are being prescribed medications with major side effects. But what if it's actually a misdiagnosis? We're talking, of course, about dementia. Although dementia can look similar to ADHD and autism in older populations, treatment options are wildly different, and very few clinics perform ample screening to distinguish between these conditions. In this episode, we'll break down the similarities and differences. We'll also talk about the pitfalls of aging gracefully with ADHD and autism, so you and your loved ones can navigate the complexities armed with knowledge. Sources * Survey about menopause with ADHD [https://www.additudemag.com/menopause-symptoms-adhd-survey/amp/] * Stories about aging with autism [https://youtu.be/eoiEZ3g5MlI?si=C8XwLbhmKhuxfZhm]  * Meta-analysis about aging well with autism [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11203987/] * Video about aging with ADHD by Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D. [https://youtu.be/GGwkuPCSkgA?si=6l-AWyCvbFBNEloZ]  * Clinics rarely screen for ADHD in older populations [https://www.additudemag.com/old-age-adhd-diagnosis-treatment/amp/] * Study on ADHD and dementia risk [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10582792/] * Common conditions that look like dementia [https://www.bmj.com/content/380/bmj.p3/rr] * Up to 13% of diagnosed dementia cases are actually liver failure [https://www.sciencealert.com/up-to-13-of-dementia-cases-may-actually-be-a-misdiagnosed-treatable-condition] * ADHDers have poor autobiographical memory [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/13668250.2014.983057?scroll=top&needAccess=true] * ADHD memories don't have context about time or location [https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.goodtherapy.org/blog/memory-capacity-in-individuals-with-adhd-0610131/amp]  * Dementia side effects reported by pharmacists and caretakers [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7135264/#pone.0231226.ref028] * Severe side effects to dementia anti-psychotic drugs [https://www.sciencealert.com/study-uncovers-serious-side-effects-from-common-dementia-drugs] * Severe side effects from anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody medications for dementia  [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11624191/] * Only 31% of ADHDers would be eligible for a randomized controlled trial about ADHD meds [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215036624003961]