Adult ADHD could be linked to higher dementia risk

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-10-18 02:00

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People who are diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adulthood could be at higher risk of dementia later in life, according to international research. In 2003, the researchers used an Israeli health database to identify over 100,000 people born between 1933 and 1952 who had not yet received a diagnosis of ADHD or dementia, and followed up with them in 2020. The researchers say in that time, 0.7% of the participants had been diagnosed with ADHD. Within that ADHD group, 13.2% developed dementia during the study, while 7.1% of the participants who did not receive an ADHD diagnosis developed dementia. Although this type of study can't show ADHD caused the increased risk of dementia, the researchers say the findings contribute to existing research suggesting a link between the two.

Media release

From: JAMA

Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and the Risk of Dementia

About The Study: In this study of 109,000 individuals born between 1933 and 1952 and followed up in old age, adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was associated with an increased risk of dementia. Policy makers, caregivers, patients, and clinicians may wish to monitor reliably for ADHD in old age.

Authors: Stephen Z. Levine, Ph.D., of the University of Haifa in Haifa, Israel, is the corresponding author.

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Research JAMA, Web page The URL will go live after the embargo ends

Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of Haifa, Israel

Funder: Dr Rotstein received funding from the Israeli National Insurance Institute (grant 62869).

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