23/10/2025
Emerging research shows that people with ADHD are significantly more likely to experience functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. These aren’t isolated issues -they’re linked to inflammation, altered gut-brain signalling, and disruptions in the microbiome. In other words, the gut and brain are in constant conversation.
🧠 Gut-Brain Axis and ADHD Individuals with ADHD have markedly higher rates of functional GI conditions such as IBS, dyspepsia, and chronic constipation. These symptoms are closely tied to disrupted gut-brain communication, systemic inflammation, and microbiome imbalance.
🔬 Microbiome Disruption and Neurodevelopment ADHD is associated with gut dysbiosis- characterised by reduced microbial diversity and altered short-chain fatty acid profiles. Gut bacteria influence key neurotransmitters involved in attention and impulse control, while the brain, in turn, affects gut microbiota via stress hormones. This creates a bidirectional feedback loop.
This connection matters deeply in nutrition care. Gut microbes help regulate dopamine and serotonin - central to mood, motivation, and executive function. Chronic stress, which many neurodivergent individuals experience, can further destabilise the gut ecosystem. Again, it’s a two-way street: the brain affects the gut, and the gut affects the brain.
So when we validate someone’s experience of food-related distress, we’re not just being empathetic - we’re being evidence-based. Nutrition interventions that support gut health, reduce inflammation, and honour sensory and emotional needs can be transformative.
