ADHD, Hypermobility & Anxiety: The Hidden Connections with Dr James Kustow

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by a network of overlapping neurotypes rather than a single spectrum, with a high heritability of 70-80%. Dr. James Kustow, a consultant psychiatrist, reframes ADHD as a disorder of regulation across ten domains, including attention, emotion, and activity. This condition frequently intersects with systemic physical issues like hypermobility, dysautonomia, and mast cell activation, which often manifest as chronic inflammation and sensory processing challenges. These systemic problems, often exacerbated by environmental factors and modern stressors, frequently lead to misdiagnosis or fragmented care. Effective management requires a holistic approach that integrates lifestyle stability, such as nutrition and movement, with targeted interventions for autonomic and immune system dysregulation, moving beyond traditional psychiatric silos to address the whole-body nature of brain health.