ADHD Linked to Fourfold Higher Risk of Cognitive Impairment
A new study in JAMA Psychiatry suggests individuals with ADHD may face a significantly higher risk of cognitive impairment or dementia later in life. The elevated risk was also observed in those with genetic susceptibility to ADHD.
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry has identified a notable association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and an increased risk of cognitive impairment or dementia in later life. The research analyzed health records and genomic data from over 187,000 adults aged 50 and older who are part of the All of Us Research Program.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh found that 6.7 percent of participants with an ADHD diagnosis later developed dementia or mild cognitive impairment. This rate was significantly higher compared to the 3.4 percent observed in participants without ADHD. The study concluded that ADHD was associated with a more than fourfold increased hazard of cognitive impairment.
Beyond diagnosed ADHD, the study also explored genetic predispositions. It revealed that individuals with a greater genetic susceptibility to ADHD experienced a 35 percent higher risk of developing cognitive issues compared to those with low genetic susceptibility. This finding suggests the link is not solely due to diagnostic or healthcare access differences.
"Finding a similar association using these two different approaches provides greater confidence that the relationship is not simply explained by differences in health care use, clinician recognition, or how ADHD is documented," stated Douglas Teixeira Leffa, a psychiatry resident at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and co-author of the study.