Understanding Neurodivergence

ADHD Is Real: What Brain Imaging and Genetics Actually Show

A viral post lists four kinds of evidence that ADHD is a real, biological condition. We checked each claim against the actual studies - here is what holds up.

Aug 07, 2026 Read more →

Stanford Scientists Calmed an Overactive Brain Circuit and Reversed Autism-Like Behavior in Mice

A viral post claims Stanford "successfully reversed autism." The real study is real and exciting - but it was in mice, using tools not yet available for humans. Here is what actually happened.

Aug 04, 2026 Read more →

L-Carnitine and Autism: What the Research Actually Shows (and Why It Does Not Work the Same for Everyone)

A Facebook post claims L-carnitine improves autism symptoms. Unlike some supplement claims, this one is backed by real clinical trials - with important caveats.

Aug 02, 2026 Read more →

Is Autism "Linked to Neanderthal DNA"? Here's the Real 2024 Study.

A viral post claims autism is linked to Neanderthal DNA in modern humans. There is a real, peer-reviewed 2024 study behind this - but autistic people don't carry more Neanderthal DNA overall, the effect is specific to certain rare variants, and it depends heavily on ancestry.

Jul 22, 2026 Read more →

"Studies Confirm" People With Similar Autistic Traits Are Attracted to Each Other? Here's the Real Research.

A viral post claims studies confirm people with similar autistic traits feel mutually attracted to each other. There is a real, named research area behind this - "assortative mating" in autism - but no study has actually measured romantic attraction, and the evidence contradicts itself depending on how it's measured.

Jul 17, 2026 Read more →

"Brain Fog Genetics": A Checklist of 15 Genes Across 6 Conditions. Here's What Actually Holds Up.

A viral genetics checklist links brain fog to celiac disease, lupus, POTS, inflammation, oxidative stress, and "detox genes" for mold toxins. One of these has solid evidence. Several are real conditions with unproven gene-to-symptom links. One is a red flag straight out of consumer-genetics marketing.

Jul 15, 2026 Read more →

Are Autism and Schizophrenia "Byproducts" of Human Intelligence? Here's the Real Study.

A viral post claims autism and schizophrenia are natural byproducts of the genes that made human intelligence possible. There is a real 2024/2025 study behind this - but the researchers themselves are far more cautious than the post lets on, and one of its central claims doesn't hold up at all.

Jul 13, 2026 Read more →

Genetics and Serotonin Keep Showing Up in ADHD Content. Here's What's Actually Solid.

TPH1/TPH2, SLC6A4, HTR1/HTR2 - serotonin gene explainers are everywhere right now. Some of it is textbook-accurate. Some of it is one researcher's theory presented as settled fact. And serotonin isn't even ADHD's primary biology - here's where it actually matters.

Jul 10, 2026 Read more →

ADHD and Your Heart: 15 Shared Genes Link ADHD to Cardiovascular Disease

A November 2025 genome-wide study found 15 genetic loci shared between ADHD and 5 major cardiovascular diseases. Mendelian randomization shows ADHD genetic risk causally raises heart disease risk - partly through BMI and smoking, which are modifiable.

Jul 08, 2026 Read more →

683 Genes Link 8 Psychiatric Disorders. Your Brain Doesn't Read Diagnostic Categories.

A landmark UNC study in Cell tested 17,841 genetic variants in living human neural cells and found 683 that shape 8 conditions at once: autism, ADHD, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, OCD, Tourette, anorexia. The shared ones stay active longest during brain development.

Jul 04, 2026 Read more →