NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — A groundbreaking study led by Rutgers University researchers has found a link between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and an increased risk of dementia.
The study, led by Michal Schnaider Beeri, director of the Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research at the Rutgers University Brain Health Institute, followed more than 100,000 older adults in Israel for 17 years to examine a potential link. between ADHD and dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
The study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open , suggests that adults with ADHD are nearly three times more likely to develop dementia than those without ADHD. This finding sheds light on a previously understudied population, as research on the impact of ADHD in adults has been limited.
Beery emphasizes the importance of this study as it provides valuable insights for caregivers and physicians, allowing them to better understand the risks associated with ADHD and identify possible strategies to reduce them.
The study analyzed data from a national cohort of more than 100,000 people followed from 2003 to 2020. Comparing people with and without ADHD, researchers noted a significantly higher risk of developing dementia in adults with ADHD, even after controlling for other known risk factors such as cardiovascular disease.
The findings suggest that ADHD in adults may have neurological consequences that reduce their ability to compensate for cognitive impairment later in life.
Abraham Reichenberg, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and senior author of the study, emphasizes the importance of monitoring ADHD symptoms and concomitant medications in older adults.
It encourages doctors, clinicians and caregivers to be aware of symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in older adults and to engage in open discussions with health care providers.
Stephen Levine, a professor at the University of Haifa’s School of Public Health, stresses the importance of not ignoring ADHD symptoms in older adults and encourages people to discuss these symptoms with their doctors.
This highlights the need for increased awareness and proactive treatment of ADHD in older adults.
The study also suggests that treating ADHD with psychostimulants may help reduce the risk of developing dementia in adults with ADHD.
Psychostimulants have been shown to alter the trajectory of cognitive impairment.
However, further research is needed to examine the effects of medications in patients with ADHD and their potential impact on the risk of developing dementia.
This groundbreaking research is a critical step toward understanding the complex relationship between ADHD and dementia. By shedding light on this connection, scientists hope to pave the way for future research and interventions that can reduce the risks associated with ADHD and improve the quality of life for people with the condition.
—
Online:
News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
Contact us: [email protected]
Our Standards, Terms of Use: Standard Terms And Conditions.
To eliminate any confusion arising from different time zones and daylight saving changes, all times displayed on our platforms are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).