Neurodiversity and Autoimmunity
Did you know that you have a higher chance of being neurodivergent if you have an autoimmune condition?
Our understanding (and diagnosis) of neurodiverse conditions such as autism and ADHD is increasing rapidly. Many people, particularly women, are being diagnosed later in life.
The co-occurence of autoimmunity and neurodivergence is not fully understood by any means, but genetics are thought to play a role, particularly in regard to their influence on methylation pathway function.
Methylation comes up a lot in autoimmune health. It’s extremely relevant to autoimmunity, because it affects our detoxification function.
It is also relevant to conditions such as autism and ADHD, as it affects our neurotransmitter function (mood hormones), such as serotonin, dopamine, melatonin and more.
Why is it helpful to recognise if I may be neurodivergent?
Understanding and validating our feelings and experiences relieves stress and helps us to access appropriate support. This has a positive impact on our autoimmune conditions and our quality of life. Neurodiversity impacts all areas of life, including relationships in particular. Understanding this, and learning how to navigate these issues, can help in this area.
Conditions such as autism and ADHD are associated with a reduced ability to produce certain digestive enzymes. Identifying these conditions helps nutritionists to focus on this aspect of digestion. There is a lot of support that nutritionists can provide in this area, and it can have a really positive cascade-down effect on gut health and autoimmune symptoms.
Neurodiversity is also associated with reduced detoxification ability in some cases. Again, recognising this helps us to focus on this area and give these clients extra support. Detoxification is the first area I work on with autoimmune clients, because it does have such an impact. With neurodiverse clients, I often consider additional testing on certain aspects of detoxification that can typically be affected in conditions such as autism and ADHD. This helps us to get to the root cause of certain issues more quickly.
The issues mentioned above can make neurodivergent clients more susceptible to pathogens such as Candida and mould. Again, it is helpful to recognise this and put extra support in place. These clients can also be more sensitive to supplements, so again it is useful to recognise this from the start and begin gently.
I mentioned at the start that genetic differences affecting methylation appear to be one of the underlying factors that explain why autoimmunity and neurodiverse conditions often co-present. Genetic testing is able to look at the methylation pathway in greater detail and to help us understand how that individual is affected. For example, they may need higher levels of certain nutrients that drive this pathway, or they may be susceptible to environmental factors that inhibit this pathway, such as heavy metals. Some clients will have a genetic profile that makes them particularly sensitive to high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, so again this is useful to recognise and help them with.
Menopause: people with autoimmune conditions and / or who are neurodivergent can really struggle during this phase of life. Perimenopause and menopause impact many of the same areas affected by neurodiverse conditions: self-esteem, sleep, mood, relationships and detoxification. This can have devastating impact on health, relationships and career for some people if they don’t have the right support. Understanding yourself and your needs, and getting support where appropriate, is really important at this time.
How can I tell if I am neurodivergent?
This is not easy. There are many neurodiverse conditions. The picture is complex and constantly evolving. Getting a diagnosis can be extremely difficult. However, there is an increasing amount of information that is easily accessible on this subject, and it is possible to start supporting yourself while working towards a possible diagnosis.
Lesser known symptoms of ADHD and autism in adults
I think the most important thing here is to understand that these conditions can present in many difference ways, and can depend on factors such as gender and age. Our knowledge of conditions such as autism and ADHD is often limited to stereotypes, which can be extremely misleading.
Lesser known symptoms of ADHD:
May excel at complex intellectual tasks, while struggling with every day tasks, especially chores and maintaining organisation. May often struggle to complete tasks.
Difficulties with planning and remembering things.
May appear to lack motivation or effort, even when actually trying your best.
Struggling with time management.
Inner restlessness, racing thoughts, constant need for stimulation.
Acting impulsively without considering consequences, leading to issues in relationships and decision-making.
Frequent mood swings, heightened sensitivity and emotional reactivity.
Very talkative, frequently interrupts. Impatient when waiting.
May struggle with finances.
Lesser known symptoms of autism:
Women may be more likely to mask symptoms of autism in order to fit in socially, leading to underdiganosis.
Difficulty in maintaining friendships.
Prefer solitary activity or playing alone sometimes.
Shy, withdrawn, or overly anxious in group social settings.
Anxious in social settings that lack structure, eg no set finish time, no structured activity, or lack of clarity around event details.
Formal speech patterns.
Highly sensitive to sensory input.
Overreactive to minor changes or unexpected events.
Masking can result in ‘normal’ behaviour at school or work, then emotional meltdowns at home (due the stress of masking).
Heightened empathy towards other people and animals.
Intense interests.
Practices conversations or social interactions in advance.
Feels exhausted or overwhelmed after social interactions.
Females are more likely to internalise their struggles, leading to higher rates of anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.
Neurodiverse conditions can often present together and this can cause confusion, meaning that conditions may be missed.
This may be the most important message to take away. It is increasingly being recognised that autism and ADHD commonly present together. The symptoms of one can directly oppose the symptoms of the other. This can result in one seemingly ‘cancelling out’ the other, meaning that both conditions are missed.
For people with both of these conditions, finding this information, and then learning how to give themselves the balance of structure and stimulation that they crave, can be life-changing. It can have an enormously positive influence on their autoimmune condition too, as it relieves a huge amount of stress.
It can also help them to understand how to make certain nutritional changes affecting digestion and detoxification, as well as secondary factors such as sleep.
If you think you may be affected by one or more of these conditions, you may want to consider seeking professional support, as it is likely to help you in all sorts of ways.
If you’d like to know more about how I work with neurodiversity alongside autoimmunity, you are very welcome to get in touch.