Doctor reveals a shocking cause of ADHD symptoms that could have a simple fix

Daily Mail​

27-06-2025

Taking iron supplements could be a simple fix for ADHD symptoms like brain fog, poor memory and difficulty focusing, a doctor suggests.
Millions of Britons are now estimated to be living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with experts concerned about surging diagnoses.
But now, speaking on Instagram, British consultant psychiatrist Dr Ali Ajaz suggested a surprising and 'underrated' cause of ADHD symptoms, low iron stores.
In the clip, viewed over 75,000 times, he explained that low iron levels could make ADHD symptoms worse.
'If it's low your brain can't make dopamine properly. No dopamine equals no focus, poor memory, irritability and the "why the heck did I just walk into this room syndrome",' he said.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which helps the brain function, particularly for functions like mood regulation and motivation.
Low iron can also cause memory and focus problems even in those who don't have ADHD.
Some experts have told MailOnline that this could—in some cases—make people believe they have the condition when they don't, however the extent of this is unknown.
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A previous study by French experts, writing in 2008 , that low iron can cause learning difficulties, irritability and reduced academic performance in children.
Dr Ajaz adds: 'Sometimes your brain just doesn't need more hustle, it needs more raw materials.
'Feed the brain, fix the function.'
However, in what he called a 'twist', Dr Ajaz said the blood test GPs commonly use to measure iron levels may not show you have problem.
He explained these tests show active iron levels—the amount of the mineral in the bloodstream at any one time.
Dr Ajaz said this had its flaws: 'That number bounces around depending on food, stress or even the time of day.'
Instead, he said what people should look out for is their ferritin levels.
Ferritin is a protein the body uses to store iron, and a test for it can give a more comprehensive view of how much iron a person has in their body regularly.
Dr Ajaz said: 'This isn't just an issue for pregnant women or vegans. Studies show that even in adults, especially women with ADHD, low ferritin is shockingly common.'
Therefore, he explained a way to combat ADHD symptoms is to increase iron intake through dietary choices and supplements. And studies suggest this could work.
In 2023, experts at Cambridge University found boosting iron levels in women with ADHD significantly improved their mood, fatigue and sleep.
Dr Aja also cited a 2022 study which found that over 40 per cent of women with ADHD had low ferritin.
When these women were treated with iron supplements they all showed improvements in executive functioning and mood, he said.
Researchers have previously estimated that low iron stores could be responsible for around a third of the intensity of ADHD symptoms.
Iron is an essential mineral for all people as it is crucial for making red blood cells, which carry life-giving oxygen and blood around the body.
This means getting enough iron is crucial for a range of bodily functions—including general energy and focus, digestive processes and a healthy immune system.
Red meat and liver is touted by dietitians as rich sources of iron, with pulses and dark green vegetables including lentils, spinach and kale, good plant-based sources of iron.
But it is also sold over-the-counter in supplement form, which containing around 14mg per tablet.
This can be a good option for vegetarians and vegans who are more likely to have lower iron stores than people who eat meat—with dried fruit, wholemeal cereals and nuts all helping to boost levels of the essential mineral.
Patients with low levels of iron intake can suffer from anaemia—a severe iron deficiency which can cause tiredness, heart palpitations and headaches.
Pregnant women and those with heavy periods are most at risk of low iron levels.
Under NHS guidance, men should aim for around 8.7mg of iron a day, with women aged 19 to 49-years-old recommended to have almost double this at 14.8mg.
However, research has long suggested that too much iron can put people at higher risk of developing complications such as liver failure, diabetes, or heart failure.
Excess iron can also lead to erectile dysfunction and a loss of sex drive in men and disrupt a woman's natural menstrual cycle.
Whilst the exact cause of ADHD remains unclear, it's thought to be linked to problems with how the brain processes dopamine—a chemical that helps regulate attention.
For many who live with the condition, symptoms including impulsiveness, problems with organisation and difficulty focusing can be exhausting.
ADHD symptoms can be managed with drugs such as Ritalin—which works by increasing activity in the brain in areas that help control attention and behaviour.
But, questions are beginning to emerge about the potential risks of these medicines, which range from poor appetite to—in some cases— dangerous heart damage.
An estimated 2.5million people in England are now living with the attention deficit disorder.
And data suggests more than a quarter of a million children and adults in the UK are now taking medication to combat their inattentiveness and hyperactivity, according to the latest NHS figures.
Prescription rates for ADHD jumped by a fifth last year, marking the biggest annual rise since modern records began in 2015.
Data suggests the surge has largely been fuelled by a rise in women in their 20s and 30s, although rates are still increasing in children.
However, experts have warned MailOnline that the criteria medics use to assess if someone has ADHD is 'nebulous and elastic' meaning a one clinic may say a patient has the condition while another would say they didn't.
This raises the prospect of private clinics are over-diagnosing the condition and the unnecessary widespread prescribing of powerful stimulant drugs to treat it.
They have also warned many troubles that could prompt an ADHD diagnosis — such as difficulty maintaining attention at work or being distracted easily —are experiences most people have.
Booming private ADHD diagnoses is thought to have been partly fuelled by celebrities such as model Katie Price and Love Island star Olivia Attwood talking about their ADHD ordeal and waits of up to ten years for an assessment on the NHS.
Social media sites are also full of users telling how medication helped to calm them down, control their fidgeting and boost their concentration.
But experts have also argued that ADHD was only officially listed in the UK as a disorder that affects adults in 2008.
Before then, it was just recognised as a childhood problem that kids grew out of.
As a result, rather than being over diagnosed, some experts claim many adults now being told they have ADHD have gone years having their symptoms dismissed.