Highest ADHD genetic risk linked to 35% greater dementia odds |
In a new analysis of health records, around twice as many adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) developed cognitive impairment after 50 as adults without it. People with the highest genetic risk score for ADHD had 35% greater odds of dementia than those with the lowest.
“Why individuals with ADHD may be more likely to develop dementia remains a crucial unanswered question,” said co-first author of the research, Douglas Teixeira Leffa. His shortlist of possible reasons includes a lower cognitive reserve against age-related brain change, a lifetime of poorer sleep, or heart health and stress adding up in the background.
A 2023 study found no increased dementia risk among adults with ADHD who took stimulant medication, hinting that treatment might help, but Teixeira Leffa sees no convincing evidence of that yet. Most participants with ADHD never developed impairment. Settling the treatment question will take studies that follow people into old age.
For more on the link between ADHD and dementia, including the role of treatment, jump to “Is ADHD a risk factor for dementia? New research suggests it might be.”
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