Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Dementia are both considered to be very different mental disorders that are impacting millions of people’s lives. One inhibits a person’s ability to focus better on their day-to-day responsibilities, the other causes a person’s brain to degenerate and pretty soon they could no longer function.
But do you know that there could be a strong link between the two mental conditions? Research has come out in recent years suggesting that adults with ADHD symptoms are more than three times as likely as other adults to develop dementia later in life. In addition to this, another study shows that parents and grandparents of people with ADHD have a higher risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. What does this recent information mean for you? Let’s examine this research further.
Why is there a Link Between the Conditions?
It all started with a research study from Argentina. Researchers evaluated 360 patients with dementia. 251 of those patients had Alzheimer’s disease. What was found in the study was that 15.2% of those with Alzheimer’s had previous ADHD symptoms, while 47.8% of those with Lewy body Dementia previously had ADHD symptoms.
According to the study, the reason that dementia and ADHD are somehow linked is that the same neurotransmitter pathway problems develop in both conditions. This research study tested the theory that adult ADHD could precede Lewy body Dementia.
Are those with ADHD at risk of being diagnosed with Dementia?
While this study hasn’t proven that ADHD symptoms cause dementia, it is a fascinating study that helps researchers identify early symptoms allowing them to predict who’s at risk of the condition. L. Eugene Arnold, MD, professor emeritus of psychiatry at Ohio State University’s Nisonger Center and longtime ADHD researcher, feels that the link found in this study is worth exploring because the neurotransmitter problems involved in ADHD may also be involved in dementia.
However, this Argentina study is one of the few studies that have shown a possible link between ADHD and dementia. Some of these small studies have come with conflicting results. Many researchers feel that more research is needed to determine whether ADHD is indeed linked to dementia.
What could adults with ADHD do to lower their Risk?
While researchers continue to work on these findings, there are some things that adults with ADHD can do to lower their dementia risk later in life. Some of these things include maintaining a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise, and a good night’s sleep. Of course, we know these things. But it bears repeating because performing these actions regularly lowers your dementia risk. You could lower your risk by taking up hobbies that challenge your mind such as learning a new language or creating puzzles.
In the end, all we could do is our best in lowering our risk of being diagnosed with a mental illness. Share your thoughts on these research studies in the comments section below. As usual, feel free to like or share this post with someone you love dearly.
Dimentia, cool. Another thing I’m genetically predisposed to. I’ll just add that to the… wow, this list list is getting really big…. Lol