ADHD, Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s Disease, a Naturopathic Perspective

As a naturopath, I often see how brain health is greatly affected by what is occurring within the body, not just within the brain. The gut, the liver, the nervous system and our diet, specifically with blood sugar balance, greatly affects how the brain performs.

Many people are surprised to learn that unstable blood glucose can significantly impact mood, focus, memory, and long-term cognitive health. In clinical practice, I frequently see blood sugar dysregulation sitting quietly beneath conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, brain fog, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Understanding this connection gives us powerful opportunities for prevention, support, and healing.

The Sensitive Brain

The brain uses approximately 20–25% of the body’s glucose, despite making up only about 2% of body weight. Unlike our muscles, the brain cannot store glucose. It relies on a steady, regulated supply.

When blood sugar levels spike and crash repeatedly:

• Cells struggle to work effectively

• Brain chemical production is disrupted

• Inflammation increases and

• Oxidative stress damages the brain structure.

When blood sugar is unstable, individuals may experience:

• Poor concentration

• Increased impulsivity

• Irritability or emotional reactivity

• Hyperactivity or restlessness

• Fatigue and mental “crashes”

Sounds like ADHD, doesn't it?

First let's look at how blood sugar dysregulation affects ADHD.

Blood sugar plays a foundational role in how neurotransmitters (such as dopamine) are produced and regulated.

When our blood sugar drops (hypoglycemia), it triggers the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. In children and adults with ADHD, this increase of stress hormones can worsen, or mimic, ADHD symptoms.

Did you know some children lose their diagnosis of ADHD when their blood sugar dysregulation is resolved! Thats how powerful diet change can be!

High blood sugar spikes, will often follow with a crash, impairing dopamine signalling—making motivation, focus, and task initiation even more difficult for the ADHDer.

When we address blood sugar regulation, many individuals with ADHD notice improvements in:

• Focus

• Emotional regulation and

• Energy stability

Insulin and ADHD / Alzheimer's Disease

Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar.

When insulin is released, it becomes a key to open the door of cells, allowing glucose in. Once glucose is in the cell, it has energy to do it's job.

But what happens when glucose is in excess?

Insulin Resistance: A Brain Health Warning Sign

Insulin is not just a blood sugar hormone—it also plays a vital role in the brain. Insulin receptors are abundant in areas responsible for:

• Memory

• Learning

• Executive function and

• Neuroplasticity

  
  

When the body becomes resistant to insulin, the brain often follows. This is called insulin resistance, where cells no longer open, when insulin is released.

This is where we see a critical link to neurodegenerative disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease and “Type 3 Diabetes”

Alzheimer’s disease is known as “Type 3 Diabetes.” This term reflects the growing evidence that Alzheimer’s is associated with insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism in the brain.

In Alzheimer’s disease:

• Brain cells become less responsive to insulin

• Glucose uptake into neurons is reduced

• Energy-starved neurons deteriorate

• Amyloid plaques and tau tangles accumulate more readily

• Chronic inflammation accelerates cognitive decline

From a naturopathic perspective, Alzheimer’s is not simply a disease of aging—it is often the end result of decades of metabolic imbalance, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

Inflammation is a shared thread, linking ADHD symptom severity, cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. When we reduce blood sugar volatility, we reduce one of the most potent drivers of neuroinflammation, seen in both ADHD and Alzheimer's disease.

A Naturopathic Approach to Supporting Brain Health Through Blood Sugar Balance

When looking into brain health, I ask myself: What can be causing inflammation in the brain for this patient???

A detailed medical history, together with blood results and other further testing (if required) can provide me with a wealth of knowledge, helping me find the underlying inflammation culprits.

Often brain health support comes through:

Stabilising Blood Sugar

Supporting Insulin Sensitivity

Reducing Inflammation and

Nourishing the Nervous System

Whether I am supporting a child or adult with ADHD, a person struggling with brain fog, or someone concerned about cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease, blood sugar balance is one of the most powerful and modifiable factors in brain health.

From a naturopathic perspective, addressing blood sugar is not about restriction or perfection—it is about creating stability. And the brain thrives on stability.

When blood sugar is supported, the brain is better able to:

• Focus

• Regulate emotions

• Adapt and learn

• Protect itself against degeneration

Brain health is not separate from metabolic health. ADHD and Alzheimer’s disease share common biochemical threads—many of which are influenced daily by how we eat, live, and manage stress.

By restoring blood sugar balance, we create a foundation not just for clearer thinking today, but for cognitive resilience across a lifetime.

Brain fog is often a symptom linked to ADHD and Alzheimer's Disease