Products to help against attention deficit disorder and related conditions ADD / ADHD, like difficulties with concentration and restlessness

On this site you will find natural products based on herbs, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxydants to help children or adults for problems with attention and concentration,  or suffering from hyperactivity problems. Please click at the banner or link to learn more or buy.

Further down at thos page there is some information about attention deficit disorer and about the ingredient huperzin A.

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What is attention deficit disorder

By attention deficit disorder, there is problems of paying attention, problems with concentration and sometimes also hyperactivity. Attention or hyperactivity problems are most often diagnosed in children, but the problems use to remain into adulthood in some form or another.

Attention deficit disorder is not an exact definition of a unitary disease, and there is probably not one specific set of reasons behind this diagosis.

Probably also many patients get this diagnois on a faulty basis. People are different and what sort of activities that angege a person and whot sort a person find boring vary very much from person to person. This also holds for children. When a person is bored by the taks he or she is supposed to do or by things he is supposed to pay attention to, it is difficult to concentrate on those matters and the activity easily diverges into other areas. Many children are simply bored by many subjects in schools or by the way schoolwork is organized to the extend that they lose attention or deliberately disconnect the attention from the supposed matters. In those cases the problem is connected to the school, not to the child, and the school should change. However, children in such a situation runs the dager of being diagozed as having ADHD.

However, some persons have problems by paying constant attention or by hyperactivity regardless of how the school, work or society is structured or organized. In those cases attention deficit disorder may be an appropriate diagnosis. Others have such problem because they are exhausted and lack vitamins, minerals and other nutrient, but not in such a way that ADHD is the appropriate diagnosis. And also in cases where ADHD is a correct diagnosis, the situation can be aggravated by exhaustion and lack of good nutrition, or a good nutritive status can help to cope with the disorder.

ADHD is a developmental disorder that largely is neurological in nature. The term developmental means that certain traits such as impulse control significantly lag in development when compared to the general population. This developmental lag has been estimated to range between 30-40 percent in comparison to their peers; consequently these delayed attributes are considered an impairment. ADHD has also been classified as a behavioral disorder and a neurological disorder or combinations of these classifications such as neurobehavioural or neurodevelopmental disorders. These compounded terms are now more frequently used in the field to describe the disorder. The behavioral classification for ADHD is not completely accurate in that those with Predominately Inattentive ADHD often display little or no overt behaviors.

Symptoms of ADD/ADHD

Attention deficit disrder in its full form implies the following symptoms:

- Difficulty to pay attention to messages from other people.

- Being easily distracted from things happening in the surroundings.

- Problems to concentrate on doing some work.

- Problems to concentrate on a  message of some length.

- Problemst of remembering material to learn or tasks to do

- Hyperactivity and impulsivity, or never being able to fall to rest.

- Behaviour problems or negative attitude towards other people.

Often there is no hyperactivity, and in other times hyperactivity is the most distinct symptoms. When hyperactivity is present, one uses the term ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), if not present, the term ADD (Attention deficit disorder) is used.

The causes and mechanisms of hyperactivity and attention problems

The basic causes of attention problems and hyperactivity are not fully understod. Some inherited factors seem to predipose for ADD / ADHD. Allergy against pollutant or additives in the food and the environment seem to cause attntion and hyperactivity problems by some individuals. Lack of vitamins and mierals also seem to cause such problems or aggravate an ADD / ADHD syndrome allready present.

Treatment for ADD(ADHD)

Intensive guiding and counceling of the child or adult durings educational ours is a major treatment mode for children, teens and adults that suffer from attention problems.

Caounceling of the persons family to make the dayly life as structured as possible is another important measure.

Some children are treated by central stimulating drugs, like amphetamine or ritaline.

Research projects have shown that persons suffering from ADD / ADHD do better if they attend to a well balanced diet without artificial additives and getting supplements of vitamins and minerals.

Research has chown that people suffering from ADD / ADHD often are deficit in vitamin b6, magnesium and zink, and that extra supplements of these substances has improved their condition.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV-Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR), the following criteria must be met for a person to be diagnosed with Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder.

Diagnosis for ADD(ADHD)

By diagnosing ADD/ADHD one uses two sets of criteria. If a patient fit into one of these sets, he gets the diagosis ADD/ADHD.

A. At least six of the following symptoms of inattention have been present for at least 6 months to a point that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level:

Attention problems:

1. Often does not give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities.
2. Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities.
3. Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
4. Often does not follow instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions).
5. Often has trouble organizing activities.
6. Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn't want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).
7. Often loses things needed for tasks and activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools).
8. Is often easily distracted.
9. Is often forgetful in daily activities.
B. Six or more of the following symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have been present for at least 6 months to an extent that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level:

 

B. At least six symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have been present for at least 6 months to an extent that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level:

Hyperactivity

1. Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
2. Often gets up from seat when remaining in seat is expected.
3. Often runs about or climbs when and where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may feel very restless).
4. Often has trouble playing or enjoying leisure activities quietly.
5. Is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor".
6. Often talks excessively.
Impulsivity

1. Often blurts out answers before questions have been finished.
2. Often has trouble waiting one's turn.
3. Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games).
II. Some symptoms that cause impairment were present before age 7 years.

III. Some impairment from the symptoms is present in two or more settings (e.g. at school/work and at home).

IV. There must be clear evidence of significant impairment in social, school, or work functioning.

V. The symptoms do not happen only during the course of a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, or other Psychotic Disorder. The symptoms are not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g. Mood Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Dissociative Disorder, or a Personality Disorder).

Based on excatly what criteria that are present, one can make three diagnosis variants:

1. ADHD, Combined Type: if both criteria 1A and 1B are present for the past 6 months
2. ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type: if criterion 1A is presentt but criterion 1B is not present for the past six months
3. ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type: if Criterion 1B is found but Criterion 1A has not been there for the past six months.
ICD

In the recent times one has begun to see hyperactivity and attention problems as two disorders that must be diagnosed separately, and the hyperactivity disorder is by now often called "hyperkinetic disorder".  

Adults often continue to be impaired by ADHD. Adults with ADHD are diagnosed under the same criteria, including the stipulation that their symptoms must have been present prior to the age of seven.  Adults face some of their greatest challenges in the areas of self-control and self-motivation, as well as executive functioning, usually having more symptoms of inattention and fewer of hyperactivity or impulsiveness than children do.

Common comorbid conditions are Oppositional Defiance Disorder . About 20% to 25% of children with ADHD meet criteria for a learning disorder. Learning disorders are more common when there are inattention symptoms.

There are some dangers in the way the criteria for ADD/ADHD are set up and used. Children that are more intelligent than the averidage or understsand more than the average, and therefore pose questions about many things in the world, easily fit into some of the criteria. If a child lives under bad condition or understands clearly that his or her living condition could be better with some defini changes, and expresses his meaning about this without being listen to, the criteria can also easily be met. Therefore the criteria surely are often used to suppress healthy behaviour i order to make a child fit into an unhealthy society.
 

About Huperzine A

This natural compound is drawing much attention for its effects on cognitive function, enhancing memory and treating cognitive deficits. A double blind placebo controlled trial of huperzine A supplementation in patients with cognitive deficits of Alzheimer’s type showed it is a safe and effective medicine, improving cognition, behavior, activities of daily living and mood.

Hoperzin is a alcaloid compound found in the plant Huperzia serrata. It is an organic compund containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. The molecule contains three rings with shared carbon atoms between adjacent rings and with both simple and double bonds. One of the nitrogen atoms is integrated in a ring and the other is in a amino group "-NH2". The molecule have basic properties because the nitrogen atmoms can attract a proton

Basic actions

Hoperzine A is an inhibitor of the enzyme acetylcoline esterase.

It also inhibits the NMDA receptors in the brain and therefore protects tissues in the brain against glutamine induced damage.

It also has the effect of increasing the level of nerve growth factor, a peptide that stimulate nerve cells to grow branches and develop.

Medical effects

Huperzin has shown promising properties as a drug to treat disease where nerve tissue is altered to be less functional or destroyed.

Since it both protects against factors that destroy nerval tissue, and increase factors that stimulate nerve regeneration and nerve growth, it seems it can both prevent damages of such diseases and help heal allready done damages.

One of the conditions it is likely to counteract, is Alzheimer's disease. Clinical invastigations in China have produced very positive results of using this drug against Altzheimer's. It is under further study in the USA.

It may also be helpful against epilepsi.

Since the drug increases factors in the brain that stimulate growth and development, it is also likely to be effective against diseases where parts of the brain are too weakly developed. It is further likely to strengthen the brain structure so that it can better cope with and manage impulsive tendencies.

A condition where thise properties are likely to be of use is attention deficit disorder.

The drug may cause side effects in some pations like:  breathing problems, tightness in the throat or chest, chest pain, skin hives, rash, itchy or swollen skin, upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, hyperactivity and insomnia. The reported side effects have never been of serious nature and the drug seems so far to be more safe than current medicines against alzheineræ's.

About other of the ingredients of the product Listol

Vitamin B6. Pyridoxine is essential for proper function of the nervous system.  Researchers conducted a clinical study where 52 hyperexcitable children were given a regimen of vitamin B6 and magnesium for 3-24 weeks. The results showed that in all patients, symptoms of hyperexcitability (physical aggressivity, instability, scholar attention, hypertony, spasm, myoclony) were reduced after 1 to 6 months treatment (1)

Iron. Research indicates that iron deficiency is associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children. Markers of iron status are significantly lower in children with ADHD than healthy controls (2). As well, lower serum values of ferritin are directly correlated with severity of symptoms and cognitive deficits. Treatment with iron in children with ADHD has shown improvements in the Conners Rating Scale for Parents (3).

Magnesium. In a study of 116 children with ADHD magnesium deficiency was observed in 95% of the subjects. Analysis of the data showed a correlation between levels of magnesium and the quotient of development to freedom from distractibility (4). A Supplementation with magnesium for 6 months in children who have ADHD and magnesium deficiency has demonstrated decreased hyperactivity in a controlled trial (5). Decreased hyperexcitabilty has also been established with magnesium and vitamin B6 supplementation (1).

Zinc. Another essential mineral, zinc has also been linked to ADHD. A study conducted to explore the relationship of zinc nutrition to the severity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in a middle-class American sample with well-diagnosed ADHD showed that serum zinc levels correlated at with parent-teacher-rated inattention (6). A double blind randomized placebo controlled trial of supplementation with zinc plus methylphenidate (pharmaceutical treatment) for 6 weeks in children with ADHD concluded that Parent and Teacher Rating Scale scores improved when compared to placebo plus methylphenidate (7). Another double blind randomized placebo controlled trial of supplementation with zinc sulfate alone demonstrated zinc was superior to placebo in reducing symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and impaired socialization in patients with ADHD, and was well tolerated (8).

Copper. When supplementing with zinc it is always important to take additional copper to prevent deficiency of this trace mineral, as zinc and copper compete for absorption. Furthermore, copper levels are observed to be lower in children with hyperactivity (9).

Phosphatidylserine. An essential phospholipid, phosphatidylserine can ameliorate symptoms of ADHD. An in-office trial of phosphatidylserine supplementation for up to 4 months showed benefit in 90% of cases of ADHD treated in a physician’s office, most notably with learning and attention improvements (10, 11).

Di-Methyl Glycine. Abnormal glucose metabolism is a proposed contributor to ADHD and treatment with dimethyl glycine may improve symptoms of hypoglycemia, which can occur in some patients with ADHD.

Glycine. Glycine is a basic amino acid which is vital for proper nervous system function. Glycine supplementation in animals has been shown to reduce hyperactivity through dopaminergic pathwaws (12,13). In one case study, oral treatment with glycine improved hyperactivity in a young boy (14).

GABA Powder. GABA pathways in the brain appear to play a role in certain cognitive disorders like ADHD. Researchers have proposed using pharmaceutical GABA enhancers to treat conditions including ADHD (15).

DMAE Bitartatrate. DMAE is a precursor for phosphatidylcholine, an important phospholipid in the brain. Supplementation with DMAE has demonstrated improvements in hyperkinesis, an older term for ADHD (16).

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is nutritional in nature and should not be construed as medical advice. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug and cosmetic act.