Name: Why ADHD Brains Jump Around
Uploaded: 2026-07-07T04:47:46.000Z
Description: Our ability to concentrate comes down largely to our supply of the “feel good hormone” dopamine in the brain, says psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen.

NTD Movies

NTD Plus

NTD+ Movies

The Unrestricted War

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

News

US News

Cyber Defense Agency Warns Hackers Are Increasingly Targeting Water Systems

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

Shows

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

2.8 Million People in China Evacuated Amid Typhoon Bavi

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

Breaking news and in-depth analysis from the United States and beyond. We bring you the latest updates, exclusive insights, and sharp discussions on the most pressing issues. NTD Newsroom airs Monday–Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

US Announces Visa Restrictions Targeting Cybercriminals

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Politics

Congress

House Passes Legislation to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

Florida Ticket Wins $800 Million Mega Millions Jackpot

Troy Myers is a regional reporter based in St. Augustine, Florida. His background includes breaking, criminal justice, and investigative writing for local news, producing on a national morning newscast in Washington, D.C., and working with an award-winning, weekly investigative news program. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his dog at the beach.

Troy Myers

Jason Perry is an Army veteran and NTD's national security correspondent. Jason primarily covers border security, national defense, foreign wars, and veterans' issues.

Jason Perry

Courts

Appeals Court Upholds Block on Trump Order to Tighten Mail-In Voting, Citizenship Verification

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

Melina Wisecup is NTD's congressional correspondent based in Washington, covering Capitol Hill and campaign politics.

Melina Wisecup

Sen. Lindsey Graham Likely Died After Aorta Tear, Medical Examiner Says

Bringing you the latest videos, livestreams, and premieres.


NTD Videos

Label

Live

NTD+ Live

Trump Makes an Announcement on Freedom Hauler in the White House

Mary Man is a writer for NTD. She has traveled around the world covering China, international news, and arts and culture.

Mary Man

China News

China Floods: Thousands at Risk After Multiple Dams Collapse in Guangxi

Brendon Fallon is the host and executive producer of NTD's "Vital Signs," a health show that zooms in on the important matters of health that come up in everyday life—connecting the dots across the broad canvas of our holistic wellbeing.


Brendon Fallon

Discover trending health videos for body, mind, and soul on Vital Signs. Explore important matters of everyday health, from better sleep to virus immunity

Vital Signs

6 Ways to Free-up Trauma, inc EMDR, Neuro Emotional Technique — Clinical Psych

Trick the Mind into Wealth, Romance, Success? Science Behind Law of Attraction

The Viruses Scientists Fear Most—Ebola, Hantavirus, & H5N1 With ICU Doctor Roger Seheult

Flip ADHD: 5 ’Strategic Unfocus’ Tools from a Harvard Neuroscientist

Mindfulness: Why Your Mind Runs Wild—First Steps to Taking Control

Tune out Anxiety, Hone Focus Through Wearable Vibration–Neuroscientist

3-Step ‘NY Firefighter’ Trauma, Burnout Relief Exercises—James Gordon MD

ADHD: Feed Kids These Foods, Avoid These—Harvard Psychiatrist Uma Naidoo

Beyond Serotonin, What Causes Depression? 7 Habits to Boost Mood

Tips to Rein in Rage to Rescue Relationships | Brad Jacobs MD

Nano Vitamins to Fight Viruses that Could Cause Cancer: Curcumin, Quercetin, EGCG

Virus Carried by 50 Percent of Adults Could Alter Breast, Prostate, Colon Cancer

Anti-Cancer: Plants vs Meds in Activating Immune Shield

How to Starve Cancer Cells– Carnivore Doctor

Use Home Hydrotherapy to Combat Flu, Next Big Virus

Good Bacteria Against Breast Cancer and IBS

What Silent Diet Factor Grows Cancer? Genes vs. Lifestyle for Cancer Risk | Dr. Jason Fung

How to Boost Cancer Immunity and How Cancer ‘Thinks’ Like a Virus | Dr. Jason Fung

Fixing the Hidden ‘Gut Factor’ in Women’s Hormone Health—Reduce UTI, STD, Depression

Counter Colon Cancer, Colitis, Irritable Bowel by Eating This Homemade Yogurt

Alzheimer’s: Lost Molecules from Food that Slow Brain Aging | Austin Perlmutter MD

Alzheimer’s: 12 Vitamins, Foods, Exercises for Brain Metabolism | David Perlmutter MD

7 Core Supplements to Boost Strength, Weight Loss After 60 | Doug Spiel, MD

Glutathione Found Low in Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s–How the Body Heals the Mind | Joseph Maroon MD

Shift Immune Cells from Attack to Brain-Defense Mode | David Perlmutter MD

7 Anti-Alzheimer’s Nutrients and How to Take Them—A Brain Surgeon’s Guide

Ways to Protect Infant, Fetal Brains from Toxins–Cut ADHD, Autism Risk 2

Cut ADHD, Autism Risk From Cooking Oils, Wheat, and Cheese

Why ADHD Brains Jump Around

How Twins’ Autism Shifted After Detox of Home, Diet, Lifestyle

Easy Eating to Cut Stress, Stay Focused Under Pressure—Nutritionist

Hidden Ingredient Causing Migraine, Obesity—Neurosurgeon

Peptides, Finding Purpose, and Powerful Habits – Keys to Longevity | Bob Goldman MD

Which Protein, Fats for Brain Health? What’s Missing from the New Pyramid? | David Perlmutter MD

If High LDL Doesn’t Signal Heart Risk, What Does?–Critical Blood Tests

How to Reboot Your Immune Sys to Stop Allergies, Arthritis, Gut Issues | Jeffrey Bland PhD

Risk vs Benefit: Constipation, Gout, Kidney Stones on Zero Carb | Carnivore MD

Long-Life Humans: What was their Secret? | Anthony Chaffee MD

Elderberry Versus Elderflower Against Colds, Flu, and COVID

Key Signs of Kidney Disease and Steps to Prevent It

Nurture Gut Flora — Sauerkraut’s 5 Key Benefits

Nitrogen Plasma: Skin Treatment Hope for Acne Scars, Wrinkles, Sagging?

Diet Switch: Hormone, Weight Loss, Brain Health Benefits | Bella Ma

Why Women Must Build Muscle — Best Protein, Exercises | JJ Virgin

Vinegar, Rye, Steel-Cut Oats, and other Fat Busters | Jason Fung MD

Curb Hunger Hormones to Lose Weight Drug Free | Jason Fung MD

Ease Arthritis: Supplements to Surgery | Orthopedic Surgeon

Cut Kidney Inflammation Risk via the Fasting Mimicking Diet | Dr. Jason Fung

Why the ‘Biggest Losers’ Regained Weight | Dr. Jason Fung

Why Are We Fatter Now Than in the 70s? | Dr. Jason Fung

Our ability to concentrate comes down largely to our supply of the “feel good hormone” dopamine in the brain, says psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen.

Watch our exclusive episode, only on <a href="https://www.ntd.com/vital-signs" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">NTD</a>.

He uses specialized imaging to show patients how the workings of their brains—including blood flow to different areas—affect their mental health.

“When you don’t have enough dopamine, when you try to concentrate, your brain drops in activity—the harder you try, the worse it gets,” says Amen.

“And we all have only so much store of dopamine available. People who have ADHD actually have less, and so you find that they’re always doing things to try to increase their own dopamine,” he adds.

How might having too low dopamine influence the behavior of those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? How might dopamine-seeking lead to more problems?

Medication can improve ADHD in some cases, but if wrongly prescribed, it can make things worse, says Amen, citing his daughter as an example. “She had the hyperactive form and the medicine was a godsend for her, but if I increased it too much, I could just see it flatten her personality.”

Many ADHD medications, such as Adderall, increase the availability of dopamine much the same way that video games, social media, and drugs do, says Amen.

What behaviors can naturally balance dopamine levels to improve ADHD? Which supplements and in what amounts can help boost mental focus?

—————————————————————————————————————————————–
Related/Referenced studies/reports:

The Truth About ADHD and Addiction
<a href="https://www.additudemag.com/the-truth-about-adhd-and-addiction/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.additudemag.com/the-truth-about-adhd-and-addiction/</a>

Restricted diets can help children with ADHD, study suggests
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/feb/04/adhd-diet-food-children-behaviour" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/feb/04/adhd-diet-food-children-behaviour</a>

Media and Young Minds | Pediatrics
<a href="https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2591" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2591</a>

Effectivity of Saffron Extract (Saffr’Activ) on Treatment for Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Clinical Effectivity Study – PubMed
<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212958822000027" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212958822000027</a>

Preliminary evidence differentiating ADHD using brain SPECT imaging in older patients – PubMed
<a href="//pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18720662/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">​​https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18720662/</a>

Patterns of Regional Cerebral Blood Flow as a Function of Age Throughout the Lifespan – PubMed
<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30103336/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30103336/</a>

===================================================================================

————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Follow Vital Signs on Social Media:
<a href="https://X.com/seevitalsigns">X</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vitalsignsbrendon/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/VitalSignsBrendon">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@wideangle">Truth Social</a> | <a href="https://gettr.com/user/vitalsignsbrendon">Gettr</a> | <a href="https://t.me/VitalSignsBrendon">Telegram</a>

====================================================================

Vital Signs’ host, guests, and contributors offer general information on improving health and wellness. This is not intended as diagnosis or medical advice. You should consult your medical doctor or holistic doctor before enacting any suggested strategies for health and wellness improvement, including those in relation to preventing or treating specific diseases featured on this program.

Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views of NTD.

Latest

Paywall Related

Conversations on current and trending topics.

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.