Indeed, one common—yet often overlooked—condition can increase your risk for developing dementia by two to three times, according to recent studies. But here's what concerns me about that: It's something that's especially under-diagnosed in women.
How do I know? Well, studies and statistics, for one. But also because I’m one of those women: I was diagnosed much later in life than I should have been.
As for why we're talking about this now? Well, a brand-new study from the Psychiatric University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, has looked further into the ADHD–dementia connection—and offers fresh insight into why ADHD may accelerate cognitive decline with age.
The Link Between ADHD and Dementia, Explained
Published in Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, the study builds on the previous research by examining whether adults with ADHD show early signs of brain changes linked to age-related brain decline—specifically, elevated iron levels in the brain, which have been associated with conditions like Alzheimer’s.
To do so, researchers analyzed brain scans, blood samples, and lifestyle data from 32 adults diagnosed with ADHD (average age 35; 17 women, 15 men) and compared them to a control group of 29 adults without ADHD who were similar in age, gender and education level (21 women, eight men).
Their findings? Adults with ADHD had significantly higher iron levels in certain areas of the brain, especially the right precentral cortex, which is involved in movement and attention.
Translation? While iron accumulation in the brain is relatively normal with age, too much in the wrong places may signal long-term problems.
What Does This Mean for People With ADHD?
If you—or someone you love—has ADHD, don't panic: There are plenty of ways to mitigate the risk of cognitive decline that you can start now.
Advocate for treatment if you have to.
Getting proper treatment is especially critical for women and other frequently underdiagnosed groups. If you suspect you might have ADHD, advocating strongly for a proper diagnosis or explanation could significantly impact your long-term brain health. Switch practitioners if you have to.
Staying on top of ADHD treatment—whether that's through medication, behavioral therapy or both—can help reduce the cognitive load and long-term stress on the brain. In fact, some evidence suggests that treating ADHD may help lower the risk of future cognitive issue.
Keep your brain engaged.
Related: Doing This for Just 5 Minutes a Day Can Lower Your Dementia Risk by 41%
Protect your brain with a healthy lifestyle.
Get ahead of them with regular exercise, eating an anti-inflammatory Mediterranean-style diet, getting quality sleep, managing stress levels, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol. Don't worry, it's not all so serious: You can (and should) also enjoy some brain-healthy chocolate.
Related: This Super Simple Diet Could Lower Your Alzheimer’s Risk by 53%
Sources
"Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and the Risk of Dementia." JAMA Network Open."Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and Alzheimer's disease and any dementia: A multi-generation cohort study in Sweden." Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association."Prevalence of Undiagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder." Health Psychology Research."Data and Statistics on ADHD." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."Brain iron load and neuroaxonal vulnerability in adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder." Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences."Increased iron levels and decreased tissue integrity in hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease detected in vivo with magnetic resonance imaging." Journal of Alzheimer's Disease."Systemic inflammation relates to neuroaxonal damage associated with long-term cognitive dysfunction in COVID-19 patients." Brain, Behavior, and Immunity."Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases: A systematic review and meta‐analysis." JCPP Advances. Read More Details
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