New Genetic Study Could Transform Approach to Mental Health
Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Table of Contents A massive new genetic study is challenging the way we define mental illness, and confirming that the brain is
Marsha was 36 when she experienced her first panic attack. It hit unexpectedly in her familiar neighborhood grocery store. Right there in one of the aisles, her heart started racing, she had trouble catching her breath, and it felt like the world was closing in on her.
She abandoned her shopping cart and raced outside to her car, where she sobbed for over an hour. Over time, the anxiety and panic attacks became more debilitating, and Marsha eventually gave up her job as a critical care nurse and basically stopped going outside her house.
She tried going to a mental health counselor, but talk therapy didn’t help.
Marsha refused to take any form of anti-anxiety medication because she had seen how her mother, who had also suffered from panic attacks, had become addicted to Valium. Marsha thought the drugs had changed her mother’s personality and made her mean.
She also believed she should be able to “tough it out” and handle her anxiety issues on her own. The fact that she wasn’t able to fix the problem on her own made her feel like a failure.
Marsha’s husband thought there had to be better solutions for anxiety treatment for his wife. He suggested she visit Amen Clinics for a comprehensive evaluation, including brain SPECT imaging. What they saw on her brain scans changed everything for Marsha.
Her brain scan indicated increased activity in the right side of her basal ganglia, an area involved in setting the body’s anxiety level. Marsha’s setting was too high, making her feel anxious for no apparent reason.
When Marsha saw her brain scan, she realized that her problem was biological, not psychological. This revelation made her more willing to try a variety of anxiety treatments, including medication.
Her targeted anxiety interventions included:
After two months on a personalized treatment program tailored to her unique brain, Marsha was feeling good enough to leave the house and return to work. Eventually, she gained control over her anxiety disorder and panic disorder and was able to go off the medication.
A brain scan helped Marsha get her life back. What can it do for you? In this blog, you’ll discover the brain imaging benefits for anxiety treatment, including how it might help you with your anxiety.
Press Play to See What Anxiety Looks Like in the Brain
In this video, social media influencer Taylor Arco talks about seeing her brain SPECT scan and the impact it had on how she views her anxiety.
Click below to tune in.
Anxiety is often misunderstood as simply a reaction to stress or negative thoughts, but the reality is far more complex.
Brain imaging has shown that anxiety is not just an emotional state—it has a biological foundation that varies from person to person. Understanding this deeper level is essential for effective treatment.
SPECT is a functional brain-imaging technology that measures blood flow and activity in the brain. A brain scan can uncover which specific areas of the brain are overactive or underactive, providing valuable insight into what’s fueling anxiety.
Here are a few common patterns, based on scientific research as well as over 250,000 SPECT scans performed at Amen Clinics:
Traditional approaches to treating anxiety often take a one-size-fits-all approach, assuming all anxiety disorders are the same. However, the different brain patterns associated with anxiety suggest that what works for one person may not work for another.
Brain imaging can help tailor treatments by:
For Marsha, seeing her SPECT brain scan convinced her that her condition wasn’t something that she should be able to control on her own. It made her realize that taking medication might be necessary on a temporary basis.
For many people who seek treatment at Amen Clinics, seeing their SPECT scans validates their feelings.
Most people assume that people with anxiety experience the same signs and symptoms. This isn’t true.
The brain-imaging studies at Amen Clinics reveal that anxiety is not a single or simple disorder. In fact, there are seven different brain patterns associated with the condition, and each one requires a targeted treatment program.
The seven types of anxiety disorders are:
Type 1: Pure Anxiety
Type 2: Pure Depression
Type 3: Mixed Anxiety/Depression
Type 4: Over-focused Anxiety/Depression
Type 5: Temporal Lobe Anxiety/Depression
Type 6: Cyclic Anxiety/Depression
Type 7: Unfocused Anxiety/Depression
Related: Getting to Know the 7 Types of Anxiety and Depression (ebook)
Many people with anxiety feel like their condition is a sign of weakness, a personal failure, or a lack of willpower. This can prevent you from seeking help, which compounds the problem.
When you realize that anxiety disorders aren’t your fault, it’s much easier to seek the help you need. You stop feeling ashamed and start feeling empowered to do something about it.
Some family members may have a hard time understanding your struggles with anxiety or panic attacks. They may think you aren’t trying hard enough to get over it.
Seeing your brain scan can help them realize that your condition is biological in nature. This typically leads to family members being more encouraging and supportive in your healing journey.
Anxiety can be caused by many things, such as genetic vulnerabilities, neurochemical imbalances, hormonal issues, adverse childhood experiences, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), head injuries, certain medications, and more.
Brain scans can offer clues about anxiety causes. This provides psychiatrists with valuable information that allows them to ask better questions to help get to the root causes of anxiety. By understanding underlying causes, mental health professionals are better equipped to develop more effective treatments for anxiety.
Related: The Long-Term Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences
When people see their own brain scan compared with a healthy brain scan, it can prompt them to develop something the experts at Amen Clinics call “brain envy.” Wanting a better brain makes you more inclined to follow an anxiety treatment plan.
It also encourages you to make simple yet powerful lifestyle changes that optimize brain function. With better brain function comes better anxiety management.
Brain imaging at Amen Clinics has shown that some anti-anxiety pills are damaging to overall brain function. For example, on SPECT scans, people taking benzodiazepines typically have reduced overall brain activity.
Research shows that decreased brain activity is associated with memory loss and an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Finding treatments that don’t impair brain function is critical for better health.
Many people with anxiety disorders have a co-existing disorder. Common co-occurring disorders include ADHD, depression, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and chronic pain.
For example, among the tens of thousands of patients seen at Amen Clinics, anxiety and depression occur together 75% of the time.
SPECT scans offer important information that helps you see if you may have depression or other mental health conditions in addition to anxiety. Understanding if there are co-occurring disorders helps mental health professionals find solutions that address all underlying issues for better anxiety control.
When it comes to treatment in the field of psychiatry, health care providers basically throw darts in the dark at conditions. Brain imaging offers objective data for more targeted and effective solutions.
Treatment for anxiety disorders can include a wide range of interventions, including medications and nutritional supplements, different types of psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), killing the ANTs, and more.
Looking at your own before-and-after SPECT scans offers an ideal opportunity to see how well your treatment is working. Seeing improvement in your brain function provides motivation to stick with your anxiety treatment program.
In addition, brain imaging lets your mental health professional know if treatment adjustments could enhance your progress.
Seeing the brain scans of other patients who have overcome anxiety and regained their life can be very powerful. Witnessing another person’s successful healing journey can give you hope that you can overcome anxiety.
When viewed through the lens of brain imaging, it’s easier to understand why some anxiety treatments work while others fail. By identifying the exact brain mechanisms at play, you can pursue interventions that are truly effective rather than relying on trial and error.
Brain scans provide a window into what’s happening beneath the surface, offering hope and clarity to those struggling with chronic anxiety.
Macpherson T, et al. Role of basal ganglia neurocircuitry in the pathology of psychiatric disorders. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, Volume73, Issue 6, 2019, Pages 289-301. https://doi.org/10.1111/pcn.12830
Hu, Ping et al. “New Insights into the Pivotal Role of the Amygdala in Inflammation-Related Depression and Anxiety Disorder.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 23,19 11076. 21 Sep. 2022, doi:10.3390/ijms231911076
Kenwood, M.M., Kalin, N.H. & Barbas, H. The prefrontal cortex, pathological anxiety, and anxiety disorders. Neuropsychopharmacol. 47, 260–275 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-021-01109-z
“Link between Alzheimer’s disease and benzodiazepines suspected.” Nursing older people vol. 26,10 (2014): 13. doi:10.7748/nop.26.10.13.s15
Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Table of Contents A massive new genetic study is challenging the way we define mental illness, and confirming that the brain is
Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Table of Contents In the last decade, the question “What is CTE?” has been asked and searched online more than ever before.
Hormones can feel like an invisible hand guiding a woman’s emotional world—sometimes gently, sometimes like a storm. From puberty to menopause, the ebb and flow of hormones shape not only physical health but also mental well-being.
For many women, the most intense hormonal shifts—like those before a period, during pregnancy or postpartum, and throughout perimenopause—can trigger or intensify mental health issues. Yet too often, these connections are misunderstood, overlooked, or dismissed.
Understanding how reproductive hormones impact the brain is a critical step in empowering women to take charge of their mental health.
“Hormonal fluctuations have a huge impact on a woman’s mental health, not only during pregnancy, but throughout her life,” Neha Kansara, MD, a double board-certified psychiatrist with a specialty in perinatal psychiatry at Amen Clinics in Irving, Texas.
Here’s a closer look at women’s major reproductive events and mental health, plus tips from Dr. Kansara on how to support hormonal balance and general well-being throughout your lifetime.
An estimated 1 in 5 perinatal women are impacted by mental health disorders, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, postpartum psychosis, and substance use disorders.
Reproductive mental health simply refers to well-being or mental health challenges associated with the female reproductive system.
Indeed, a recent 2023 review of published studies found that hormonal changes affect the severity of symptoms in several mental health conditions, including depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), PTSD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
Here are the reproductive stages and what science has discovered about how they impact mental health from puberty to menopause.
Hormonal surges start early in life, especially for girls. Researchers report that an increase in sex hormones during puberty may contribute to what makes girls more susceptible to mood and anxiety problems, although other factors can play a role too.
When hormones surge at a younger age and cause early puberty, a girl is at an even greater risk of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders, substance use problems and body dysmorphia, research indicates.
At the onset of menstruation, a young woman begins to experience a complex interaction of hormones—luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estrogen, and progesterone. The monthly fluctuation of these hormones can powerfully impact how a woman thinks and feels.
Studies show that between 80 to 90% of women report experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms. PMS usually occurs the week or two before a woman has her period.
It can cause physical symptoms such as:
Some women experience premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) a more severe form of PMS that can disrupt daily life.
Related: What Is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)?
Women with mental health conditions are a greater risk of experiencing PMS and PMDD. Research shows that PMS can make symptoms of existing mental health conditions worse.
For instance, symptoms of major depressive disorder or an anxiety disorder are often exacerbated with PMS. The emotional effects of PMS can also increase the risk of suicide in hormone-sensitive females.
The American Psychological Association (APA) reports that research has shown approximately 60% of women with depression or bipolar disorder report mood changes related to their menstrual cycle. And women with schizophrenia report worsening psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations, prior to menstruating.
On the other hand, certain mental health conditions—such as eating disorders, bipolar disorder, and sometimes depression—can cause irregular menstruation.
The cause of PMS is not clear. But since the symptoms occur with the fluctuations of the menstrual cycle, it is believed that hormonal imbalances like estrogen dominance and low levels of progesterone may be a contributing factor.
Low serotonin levels may also play a role in PMS symptoms.
Infertility in women is a disorder of the female reproductive system, characterized by failure to achieve pregnancy after one year or more of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse.
The reality of infertility and the stress of fertility treatments can both be detrimental to a woman’s mental well-being.
A 2023 study titled “Women Infertility and Common Mental Disorders” involving 500 women (half infertile, half fertile) found that most of the infertile women had higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Part of the stress stems from women tending to feel responsible for infertility and carrying a heavier burden while undergoing fertility treatments, research has found.
In addition, infertility hormonal treatments can cause a host of symptoms, including sleep disturbances, disruptions in sex drive, hot flashes, depressed mood, or anxiety. Infertility stress management is critical for women undergoing treatment, according to Dr. Kansara.
The window between trying to conceive (TTC) through pregnancy to postpartum is one of the most hormonally active times in a woman’s life. Consequently, it’s also a period of higher risk of mental health issues. Indeed, a 2023 review study concluded that pregnancy-related mental disorders are frequent.
Related: When Motherhood Brings Anxiety, Depression, and Stress
In fact, there’s a field of expertise called perinatal psychiatry, geared to maternal mental health support. “Women are at higher risk of experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety conditions during this period, which can be a 2- to 5-year window,” explains Dr. Kansara.
The perinatal period is one of the most challenging times for a woman’s mental health. An estimated 1 in 5 perinatal women are impacted by mental health disorders, including:
Depression and anxiety are the most widely recognized mental health conditions experienced during pregnancy. Additionally, women with histories of mental health problems who stop taking psychotropic drugs—antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, stimulants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers—during pregnancy, are at particularly high risk of recurrence.
It’s vital for women who are trying to conceive and pregnant women with existing mental health disorders to consult a perinatal mental health professional about a plan regarding psychiatric medication.
Mental health issues can also be associated with pregnancy-related issues such as physiological disorders, miscarriages, abortions, broken homes, relationship problems between the couple, unhealthy work-life balance, undue stress, and other issues. Alarmingly, suicide from untreated mental illness is the leading indirect cause of maternal mortality.
The dramatic hormonal changes after giving birth can make coping with postpartum emotions challenging for most women, according to Dr. Kansara.
Postpartum depression (also called perinatal depression) is a serious but treatable medical illness that may develop before the baby is born or just after giving birth.
It involves feelings of extremes sadness, despair, indifference, and/or anxiety. It also affects energy, sleep, and appetite. This condition carries risks for both mother and child.
Without treatment, postpartum depression can last for months or even years. The good news is that there’s a lot of postpartum depression help available. It’s wise for women to talk to their OB/GYN early as possible about postpartum mental health tips and postpartum anxiety solutions.
Press Play to Learn More About Postpartum Mental Health Issues
In this video, Dr. Neha Kansara shares what brain scans revealed about a patient who was struggling with postpartum anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.
Click below to watch.
The menopausal transition occurs over months or years during which reproductive hormone levels—estrogen and progesterone—naturally fluctuate and then drop. Eventually, the ovaries cease releasing eggs.
Menopause can also occur if a woman’s ovaries are surgically removed or damaged by certain illnesses or treatments.
Perimenopause refers to the period of time when a woman notices the first signs and symptoms of menopause, usually months or years before a woman’s last menstrual period. Once a woman goes 12 consecutive months without menstruation, she’s in menopause. From that moment on, she’s considered postmenopausal.
The hormonal shifts during the menopausal transition impact the brain. In particular, it influences the following brain regions:
These areas of the brain are involved with sleep regulation, learning, memory, and temperature regulation.
“A lot of executive and cognitive dysfunction start occurring during perimenopause,” says Dr. Kansara. This is likely why women experience menopause symptoms such as increased worry, attention problems, poor sleep, mental fog, memory lapses, and hot flashes.
Research has found that estrogen fluctuations can also affect serotonin and GABA levels in the brain, making women more vulnerable to anxiety and depression, as well as sleep disorders and bipolar disorder.
A woman’s feelings about fertility, aging, and where she fits into society, as well as other social/environmental issues, also factor into mental health during the menopausal transition.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle is one of the best things you can do to support mental wellness during times of increased hormonal fluctuation, as well as protect against hormonal imbalances.
Here are three top tips for hormonal balance from Dr. Kansara:
Keep your diet as clean as possible. Choose whole foods (lean meats, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, lean poultry/meats, fatty fish, whole grains, and fermented foods). Avoid processed foods, artificial sweeteners, refined carbohydrates, and sugary treats, which are inflammatory and can cause hormonal issues.
Diet also includes proper hydration. Divide your body weight by two and drink that number of ounces. Hydration is critically important for hormonal balance and healthy brain function.
Women need more sleep than men, so make sure you get enough quality sleep. Your hormones need rest. Dr. Kansara recommends that women over the age of 35 take a quick 20-to-40-minute power nap to reboot the system, just like we reboot a computer if it has updates.
Most women in their early teens and 20s need to focus on lean muscle building and maintaining that practice. When you hit your 40s and 50s and the body starts to lose muscle, you’ll be more likely to retain it.
Do a combination of activities four to five days a week. Include cardio with some mild to moderate strength training, along with yoga and meditation.
Whatever stage of hormonal fluctuations you experience—whether it’s monthly with PMS or PMDD, infertility, perinatal, perimenopause, or menopause—be sure to protect your mental health.
According to Dr. Kansara, there’s no reason to suffer needlessly. She recommends reaching out to a mental health professional, perinatal psychiatrist, or OB/GYN. There are many types of therapy, lifestyle changes, nutritional supplements, and medications (when necessary) that can help you feel better.
Wieczorek K, et al. Reproductive Hormones and Female Mental Wellbeing
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Pfeifer J and Allen N. Puberty initiates cascading relationships between neurodevelopmental, social, and internalizing processes across adolescence. Biol Psychiatry. 2020 Sep 9;89(2):99–108.
Rudolph K, et al. Long-term consequences of pubertal timing for youth depression: Identifying personal and contextual pathways of risk. Dev Psychopathol. 2014 Nov;26(4 Pt 2):1423-44.
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Accessed March 30, 2025
Kamboj N, et al. Women infertility and common mental disorders: A cross-sectional study from North India. PLoS One. 2023 Jan 5;18(1)
Sharma A, et al. Psychological Problems Related to Infertility. Cureus. 2022 Oct 15;14(10)
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APA Website
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Hu, LY, et al. Risk of Psychiatric Disorders Following Symptomatic Menopausal Transition. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016 Feb 12;95(6)
Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Table of Contents A massive new genetic study is challenging the way we define mental illness, and confirming that the brain is
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What’s your usual routine when you wake up in the morning? Do you grab your phone and start scrolling through social media? Hit the snooze button a few times? Rush out the door without breakfast—or consume loads of caffeine and sugar just to get moving?
Morning habits set the tone for the entire day. If you’re frazzled, stressed, or not properly nourishing your body, your physical and mental health suffers. On the other hand, taking steps toward better brain health can set the stage for a more successful day—and life.
This blog will outline an easy, research-backed morning routine that enhances brain health and creates a positive start in your daily schedule. In just five steps and five minutes, you’ll reap the benefits of improved mood, focus, and mental clarity all day long.
Brain-boosting morning habits will optimize your cognitive performance over the long term. The power of neuroplasticity ensures that even small habits can rewire your brain over time—and these small changes add up.
We already know that simple habits can change your life. And science shows that performing simple, intentional practices in the morning are especially beneficial.
Related: 23 Simple Habits to Change Your Life
A study published in 2022 cited research that early-morning behaviors can develop, over time, into helpful habits that improve health and quality of life. In addition, the emotions you feel early in the morning can influence your mood throughout the remainder of the day.
Conversely, unhealthy morning habits, like immediately checking your phone, can create unnecessary stress before you even get out of bed. The Digital Wellness Institute notes several dangers of tech use first thing in the morning, including:
Related: Do You Need a Dopamine Detox?
Other common habits also drain your brainpower first thing in the morning. These include skipping hydration or a nutritious breakfast, overconsuming caffeine (rather than allowing yourself to wake up naturally), and not taking time to plan for a positive day ahead.
Starting your day mindfully means enjoying a slower, more intentional morning routine. In just a few minutes, you can envision what you’d like to achieve, balance your mood, reduce stress, and create the conditions for enhanced mental clarity and cognitive function.
Moreover, brain-boosting morning habits will optimize your cognitive performance over the long term. The power of neuroplasticity ensures that even small habits can rewire your brain over time—and these small changes add up.
Wondering how to improve brain function in 5 minutes? Try this simple 5-step morning routine to boost focus and memory:
One of the best morning habits for mental clarity centers on hydration. Because you’re not taking in fluids as you sleep, it’s important to drink a glass of water upon awakening. For extra flavor and a vitamin C boost, add a squeeze of lemon juice. Or try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to promote blood flow to the brain.
Hydration is crucial for the brain, which is made up of about 80% water. Even mild dehydration can lead to negative effects, such as lack of focus, low mood, irritability, anxiety, memory loss, and reduced brain volume.
Deep breathing helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is instrumental in lowering stress levels. A 2021 study found that just a single session of deep, slow breathing significantly reduced participants’ anxiety and physiological stress.
Box breathing (inhaling, holding, breathing out, and holding for a count of 4 seconds each) can help lower cortisol levels and enhance focus. Or try deep diaphragmatic breathing, also called belly breathing. To promote relaxation, aim for a longer exhale (6-8 seconds) and a shorter inhale (3-4 seconds).
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In this video, psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen teaches actress/model Nikki Leigh how to do diaphragmatic breathing to help overcome anxiety.
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A full workout is great to jump-start your day, but don’t let lack of time stop you from getting moving in the morning. One study showed that even 60 seconds of intense physical activity can offer health benefits that accumulate with practice.
Start with 30-60 seconds of jumping jacks, stretching, or yoga to increase blood flow to the brain. Studies have shown a link between exercise and an increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which improves cognition and reduces depression and anxiety.
A study published in Frontiers in Psychology linked gratitude with brain activity in the anterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex. These brain regions are associated with judgment and emotional regulation.
Another study, published in 2020, found that gratitude, more than self-kindness, improved mental well-being for those with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Furthermore, the practice was found to have sustained positive effects: Participants enjoyed “a lasting appreciative perspective on life” at a six-month follow-up.
The brain can be more suggestible as it transitions from sleep to awake, so the morning is a great time to confirm what kind of day you intend to have.
You might want to clarify your #1 priority for the day, which engages your brain’s prefrontal cortex (the decision-making center). You may pick a single word that corresponds with how your day will proceed. Or you can express how you want to feel throughout the day or when it’s over.
Trying to make any new habit stick can feel like an uphill battle. But there’s a significant benefit to putting all five of these steps together into one quick morning routine for a sharper mind. It’s called habit stacking.
You may have heard the statement, “Neurons that fire together wire together.” Habit stacking—combining multiple habits into one routine so that your brain normalizes doing them together—works because of this principle.
MIT scientists confirmed in a 2018 study that neurons in the brain’s basal ganglia play a major role in grouping behaviors together in order to create a habit.
With this simple daily routine for better brain health, you’ll enjoy improved focus, more productivity, and reduced levels of stress and anxiety throughout your day. Over time, you’ll even lower your risk for cognitive decline and mental health symptoms.
Start by changing your mornings. The optimal morning routine will enhance your days—and changing your days will change your life.
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Digital Wellness Institute, Why you shouldn’t reach for your smartphone first thing in the morning, by Tyler Rice, June 16, 2023. https://www.digitalwellnessinstitute.com/blog/why-you-shouldnt-reach-for-your-smartphone-first-thing-in-the-morning
Magnon, V., Dutheil, F. & Vallet, G.T. Benefits from one session of deep and slow breathing on vagal tone and anxiety in young and older adults. Sci Rep 11, 19267 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98736-9
Sleiman SF, Henry J, Al-Haddad R, El Hayek L, Abou Haidar E, Stringer T, Ulja D, Karuppagounder SS, Holson EB, Ratan RR, Ninan I, Chao MV. Exercise promotes the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) through the action of the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate. Elife. 2016 Jun 2;5:e15092. doi: 10.7554/eLife.15092. PMID: 27253067; PMCID: PMC4915811.
Twelve Weeks of Sprint Interval Training Improves Indices of Cardiometabolic Health Similar to Traditional Endurance Training despite a Five-Fold Lower Exercise Volume and Time Commitment. Jenna B. Gillen, Brian J. Martin, Martin J. MacInnis, Lauren E. Skelly, Mark A. Tarnopolsky, Martin J. Gibala. Published: April 26, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154075
Fox GR, Kaplan J, Damasio H, Damasio A. Neural correlates of gratitude. Front Psychol. 2015 Sep 30;6:1491. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01491. PMID: 26483740; PMCID: PMC4588123.
Bohlmeijer, E.T., Kraiss, J.T., Watkins, P. et al. Promoting Gratitude as a Resource for Sustainable Mental Health: Results of a 3-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial up to 6 Months Follow-up. J Happiness Stud 22, 1011–1032 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-020-00261-5
MIT News, Distinctive brain pattern helps habits form, by Anne Trafton, MIT News Office, February 8, 2018. https://news.mit.edu/2018/distinctive-brain-pattern-helps-habits-form-0208
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If you’re struggling with focus or feeling more impulsive and restless, it can seem like these symptoms are coming out of the blue. Even if you never had ADHD as a child, you can still experience ADHD symptoms as an adult. But most people aren’t aware of a common hidden issue that can lead to the development of attention problems in adulthood.
What’s the underlying issue? For some people, it’s head trauma. People who have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI)—even a mild head injury—are at a significantly higher risk of developing focus and attention problems.
In fact, a 2020 study found that people with a history of TBI are more than twice as likely to develop ADHD symptoms compared to those without head trauma.
Research has found that people with a history of TBI are more than twice as likely to develop ADHD symptoms compared to those without head trauma.
In this blog, you’ll gain insights into post-concussion ADHD symptoms, common signs that ADHD symptoms may be from a past head injury, and brain-based strategies to improve focus and attention.
Head injuries, including mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) that don’t cause a concussion and don’t make you lose consciousness, can lead to the onset of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms. (ADHD was formerly more commonly known as attention deficit disorder (ADD). Today, people often use the terms interchangeably.)
Research shows that people who suffer concussions have significantly higher rates of inattention and impulsivity compared to those with no head trauma.
Unlike childhood ADHD, a neurodevelopmental condition that is present from an early age, ADHD after traumatic brain injury develops later in life as a direct result of brain damage. This distinction is crucial because treatment approaches for TBI-induced attention problems may differ from those for traditional ADHD.
If you’ve experienced head trauma in the past, you may be wondering: Does head trauma lead to attention problems? The answer is yes.
The link between brain injuries and ADHD symptoms is well-documented. Research shows that even mild head injuries can damage areas in the prefrontal cortex of the brain responsible for executive functions like attention, concentration, impulse control, and organization—leading to ADHD-like symptoms in adults.
Here are some examples of ADHD symptoms that may develop after a concussion or TBI:
A 2023 study published in Journal of Neurotrauma found that people with a history of concussions were significantly more likely to experience these executive function impairments later in life, reinforcing the connection between head trauma and ADHD symptoms.
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In this video, social media entrepreneur reveals that he thought he had ADHD until he got a brain SPECT scan at Amen Clinics. Find out about his real diagnosis.
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One of the biggest challenges in addressing ADHD after traumatic brain injury is that many adults don’t connect their symptoms to a past injury. You may not think that falling off your bike, hitting your head on the steering wheel in a car accident, or repeatedly hitting soccer balls with your head could have lasting consequences. But they can.
Without knowing what to ask or share, it can be difficult for your doctor to see the connection at first. A concussion from years ago may seem unrelated to any current concentration issues, leading to misdiagnosis.
Traditional ADHD diagnostic methods rely on behavioral questionnaires. Most psychiatrists never look at the brain when making a diagnosis. This means that TBI-related ADHD symptoms are often mistaken for lifelong ADHD, anxiety, or even depression.
Another major distinction is that stimulant medications, commonly used to treat ADHD, don’t always work for those with TBI-induced attention problems. Since brain injuries affect blood flow and brain connectivity differently, treatments need to be tailored to the individual.
Related: 9 Frequently Asked Questions About ADD/ADHD
If you’re wondering if ADHD symptoms may be related to past head trauma, here are some key questions to consider:
Brain imaging, particularly SPECT scans, can be a valuable tool in differentiating traditional ADHD from brain injury-related attention problems. Unlike standard brain scans, SPECT imaging shows blood flow and activity levels in different brain regions, revealing hidden injuries that could be causing ADHD-like symptoms.
If you suspect that your focus issues stem from a past head injury, working with a brain specialist who understands the link between brain injuries and ADHD is critical for getting the right diagnosis.
Ignoring ADHD symptoms caused by head trauma can have serious consequences. Studies show that untreated post-concussion ADD is linked to:
While the effects of head trauma can be frustrating, there are ways to support brain health and restore your focus.
Implementing these strategies can help you mitigate mild head injury and focus issues. You can even use some of these to treat head trauma and ADHD symptoms in the long run.
Related: Neurofeedback: Natural ADD Treatment with Outstanding Results
If you suspect your ADHD symptoms are from a head injury, the next step is to seek a thorough brain-focused examination.
Unlike standard ADHD assessments that rely heavily on questionnaires, a comprehensive evaluation including brain SPECT imaging can help reveal hidden injuries. SPECT scans can reveal low cerebral blood flow and activity that may be contributing to other mental issues.
By taking a brain-based approach to ADHD symptoms, you can regain control of your focus, emotions, and brain health.
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