ADHD breakthrough

Last updated: 2 Aug 2006

Playground antics

Dr Robin Pauc claims he has found the cure to most behavioural problems. Get the facts

Dr Robin Pauc, a Hampshire-based expert in child neurology, claims to have found a simple cure for children suffering from behavioural problems and conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia or Tourette's Syndrome.

He says a healthy diet and brain-stimulating exercises can transform the lives of the one in five children who are affected. He also reckons they are simply symptoms of underdeveloped areas of the brain.

Blame junk food?

Dr Pauc belives that all the 'conditions' can be dramatically improved if the child is put on a junk-free healthy diet high in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and follows a pattern of tailor-made exercises to stimulate the brain.

His new book 'Is That My Child: Exploding the Myths of Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Tourette's Syndrome of Childhood, ADD, ADHD and OCD' offers parents a guide on treating the conditions - he says it's a 'near total solution'.

There are around 2.25m children with behavioural problems in the UK, and boys are more likely to be affected.

Dr Pauc's theory is that youngsters with behavioural problems have an immaturity in one area of their brains. Human children are born when their brains are still not fully formed (they are not fully-formed until 21 months), and they have a wave of cell growth at around four months.

At that stage a group of 'spindle cells' are created in the brain. He says humans are the only animals with a significant number of spindle cells, and are also the only species with behavioural problems, so concludes there is a link between the two.

The spindle cells form part of the prefrontal cortex, which controls lungs we don't think about like heart rate and blood pressure. It also gives us our 'humanity' and concepts like time. He thinks the absence of spindle cells causes' autism, and under-functioning spindle cells cause ADD and ADHD.

So why do some babies develop fewer spindle cells? Being born prematurely is the main cause, but raised oestrogen levels in pregnant women are thought to affect the development of the male brain (though not the female). Birth intervention like ventouse and forceps are thought to contribute in some cases.

Dr Pauc also thinks a diet containing additives; e-numbers and too much salt and sugar could be partly to blame.

Genetics to blame?

Genetics also play a part. The child of parents with behavioural problems is much more likely to develop them - if the mother is affected; her child has a one third risk of inheriting the problems, while a father has a 70% chance of passing them on.

But Dr Pauc believes you can cure these youngsters by boosting spindle cell development with tailor-made exercises for the brain - maybe walking up three steps with your eyes closed and your hands by your side, or brushing your teeth with your left hand while standing only on your left leg.

Diet-wise, parents are encouraged to cut processed and sweet foods out of the child's diet and introduce a high protein, unprocessed diet with lots of crucial omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

Foods to avoid: