Reddit scienceFriday, October 9

Many say stimulants quiet mental noise and enable focus, with stories of dropouts reaching law school or PhDs. Others cite tolerance, side effects, sleep problems and grief over late diagnosis. One user said stimulants worsened their father's judgment, and a reply suggested possible mania.

A quip comparing ADHD meds to meth sparked debate. Some corrected the chemistry, while others said drugs made them feel "normal" rather than high. One reply cited studies arguing stimulants improve focus in everyone and that dose is the real difference. Addiction risk was also discussed.

Users described freezing over simple choices like drinks, shoes or video game decisions, calling it analysis paralysis. Many cope by owning identical outfits to remove choices. Several later realized these "quirks" were compensations for undiagnosed ADHD.

Users speculated about amygdala overdevelopment, fetal alcohol exposure, childhood neglect, lead, COVID and environmental substances. Others noted the amygdala link wasn't significant, lead mainly affects the prefrontal cortex, and differences may reflect plasticity, as in taxi drivers.

Some distrust studies tying biology to politics, though one noted biology may influence rather than determine views. Critics cited the small sample (n<100), psychology's replication problems, and the omission of sex as a factor, since men score higher in dominance.

Some users equated the trait with bigotry or wished it could be "cured." Others questioned the assumption that hierarchy is bad and egalitarian empathy good, prompting pushback. One claimed the sub mocks political opponents, and another replied that people reject science that challenges their bias.

Swedes and Danes say named regional diets ignore real staples like pork, dairy, cream sauces and pizza. Others clarify these are defined diets, not actual regional eating habits. Many say it all boils down to whole foods, fiber and less processing.

Some were surprised rapeseed (canola) oil was included. Most say evidence shows it is healthy and beats butter for heart health, mocking the anti-seed-oil/MAHA trend. Side threads cover the name and Canadian breeding that removed erucic acid.

Commenters cite activity, stress, community, healthcare and income as confounders, plus blue zone pension fraud. Others counter that the study compared diets within one Swedish population with equal healthcare access. One notes the differences between groups were small.

Some suggest years of female-voiced assistants like Siri and Alexa make female voices seem more robotic, or reflect expectations of subservience. Others note the voices are customizable and propose comparing local train announcement voices.

One user says commenters are dodging misogyny as an explanation. Others reply that the paper itself points to human-likeness. Some dismiss the ~10% gap among 189 participants as noise or junk science, while others say real-world pay data supports bias.

The old model required a gap between overall intelligence and reading ability. Some welcomed dropping it. Others said bright kids with specific weaknesses need different support. Strengths-and-weaknesses models use cognitive subtests instead, and rigid US school cutoffs were criticized.

Commenters said interventions are well researched. Intensive, systematic instruction across Scarborough's reading rope works, especially word recognition and phonics. FastForWord and multisensory methods were called unsupported, and a fringe view blaming Whole Language was noted.

Many said dyslexia runs in their families, often alongside strong vocabularies. Others recalled being placed in "slow" classes despite high intelligence, with lasting self-esteem effects. A claim that diagnoses are expanding too far was rebuffed as ignorant.

Many commenters identify as AuDHD and describe a tug-of-war between autism's need for structure and ADHD's pull toward chaos. Some note the high overlap between the conditions, late diagnosis and burnout, and joke about getting "all the flaws" of both.

A teacher says ADHD kids drop out over academic stress and autistic kids over peer stress. Others add that teachers often bullied autistic kids, misreading flat affect as disrespect, and that AuDHD kids in gifted programs often burn out later.

An autistic user opposes efforts to cure autism. Several, including AuDHD users, would gladly cure ADHD but not autism. Others cite sensory overload and ostracism as reasons to want help, while some ask how social differences could be "cured" without changing the person.

Users describe 2023 rollout hurdles: limited stock, cancelled pharmacy appointments, insurance issues, high cost and prescription requirements. Some got it easily at CVS or grocery pharmacies, since it matches the 60+ formula. Vaccine hesitancy was also noted.

Commenters note infant nirsevimab (Beyfortus) may protect modestly better, and the study ignored parents who chose it instead. Guidance is one approach, not both. Infant shot shortages and waitlists were common, and OBs often don't stock these costly vaccines.

Users joked that the findings matched their experiences, especially increased fractal dimension. Others asked how this math term applies to neuroscience, whether LSD's fractal visuals can now be measured, and for a simpler explanation of the study.

One user said sex on LSD "rewired" them, and another described intense sensations. A user with PSSD hoped LSD could help. Someone replied that PSSD usually stems from medication, which would need to be stopped, while noting it is likely necessary.

A 30-year user praised LSD's benefits and the research. Others described synesthesia, like seeing sounds and smelling "green," and joked about weekly use making them superhuman. One noted that antidepressants blunt LSD's effects.

The study tracked 1.2M Danes born 1980–2001 across individual, family and neighbourhood adversity. Each was independently linked to early death, and combined health and family adversity raised mortality beyond their separate effects.

One user speculates that gut and allergy functions share neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and serotonin, so stress may overload the body. They suggest it may resemble acquired ADHD and mention nortriptyline, while admitting the idea is unproven.

A commenter dismisses the research as spending years to prove that being stressed and sick is bad.

Users say support networks make parenthood less daunting. One single woman considering a sperm donor relies on nearby family and friends. Another user found kids unthinkable without a network, and a third described giving a friend emergency free childcare.

Communities with high social support have higher birth rates regardless of economic status. Finland's fertility fell from 1.87 to 1.30 despite strong welfare, suggesting economics alone can't explain declining birth rates.

One user suggested stronger communities simply offer more chances to meet partners. Others expanded on this, adding that communities also provide shared help in raising children.