ADHD may double the odds of developing dementia or mild cognitive impairment, a new study reports. The research, based on more than 187,000 adults 50 and older, found a striking association between the neurodevelopmental disorder and cognitive decline.
Understanding the Link
The observational analysis examined electronic health records and genetic data from participants in the NIH All of Us program.
Among those with ADHD, 6.7% showed cognitive impairment compared with 3.4% of peers without the disorder — nearly twice the rate.
After adjusting for age, sex and other health conditions, the risk rose to more than four times.
Participants with the highest genetic susceptibility to ADHD faced a 35% greater risk of dementia than those with the lowest susceptibility, the team reported.
The findings were published Oct. 7 in JAMA Psychiatry.
“This doesn’t prove that ADHD causes dementia, but seeing the same pattern show up independently in medical records and in people’s genes gives us greater confidence that the association is not simply an artifact of how ADHD gets diagnosed,” said senior author Tharick A. Pascoal, associate professor of psychiatry and of neurology at Pitt.
“Two different kinds of evidence are pointing in the same direction,” he added.
“Analyzing genetic information alongside years of health records allows us to identify patterns that might not be visible in a smaller or more traditional study,” said co‑first author Guilherme Bauer‑Negrini, postdoctoral associate in biomedical data science at Pitt.
Reducing the Risk
Although the study found an association between ADHD and cognitive impairment, experts say lifestyle behaviors can lower overall dementia risk.
Maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol, staying physically active, and controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes are key modifiable factors, Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk advised.
A plant‑rich diet and at least 30 minutes of daily exercise also support brain health, she added.
Physical activity improves mood and focus, offering additional protection.
Anyone experiencing persistent memory, focus or organization problems should consider seeing an expert for an evaluation, Landsverk recommended.
