NEWS Mental Health News New Research Finds Possible Link Between ADHD and Dementia By Claire Gillespie Claire Gillespie Twitter Claire Gillespie is a freelance writer specializing in mental health. She’s written for The Washington Post, Vice, Health, Women’s Health, SELF, The Huffington Post, and many more. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 24, 2021 Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Aaron Johnson Fact checked by Aaron Johnson Aaron Johnson is a fact checker and expert on qualitative research design and methodology. Learn about our editorial process Share Tweet Email Print Carol Yepes / Getty Images Key Takeaways Research from Sweden points to a potential link between ADHD and the risk of dementia.Parents and grandparents of people with ADHD were at higher risk of dementia than those who had children and grandchildren without ADHD.Much more research is required to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between ADHD and dementia. A large, multigenerational study at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden has found a possible link between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The research, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, shows that parents and grandparents of individuals with ADHD were at higher risk of dementia than those with children and grandchildren without ADHD. While the findings suggest that there are common genetic and/or environmental contributions to the association between ADHD and dementia, the researchers say further studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms. Looking to Prevent Dementia? Find Something You Love ADHD and Cognitive Decline The study examined more than two million people born in Sweden between 1980 and 2001, of whom around 3.2% were diagnosed with ADHD. The researchers used national registries to link these individuals to more than five million biological relatives, including parents, grandparents, and uncles and aunts. When they looked into whether these relatives developed dementia, they discovered that parents of individuals with ADHD had a 34% higher risk of dementia than parents of individuals without ADHD. The risk of Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia, was 55% higher in parents of individuals with ADHD. What Is ADHD? ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. The worldwide prevalence of adult ADHD is estimated at between 1.4% and 3.6%, according to a 2016 study. In the US, the estimated number of children ever diagnosed with ADHD was 6.1 million (9.4%) in 2016. The researchers note that the absolute risk of dementia was low for the parent cohort—only 0.17% of the parents were diagnosed with dementia during the follow-up period. The association was lower for second-degree relatives of individuals with ADHD, i.e. grandparents, uncles, and aunts. For instance, grandparents of people with ADHD had 10% increased risk of dementia compared to grandparents of people without ADHD. While the study is unable to determine a cause-and-effect relationship, the researchers offer several potential explanations. They speculate that undiscovered genetic variants that contribute to both traits, or family-wide environmental risk factors, such as socioeconomic status, may have an impact on the association. Another possible explanation is that ADHD increases the risk of physical health conditions, which in turn leads to increased risk of dementia. Leela R. Magavi, MD There has only been a limited number of small studies on the development of dementia in people with ADHD, often with conflicting results. We need much more research to determine whether ADHD is linked to dementia. — Leela R. Magavi, MD Psychiatrist and author Gayani DeSilva, MD, is skeptical about the research. "The causes of dementia are not yet fully understood, and worrying about it based on sketchy data is not helpful," she says. "Whatever we can do to keep our brains healthy is always a good idea." “The number of new ADHD diagnoses has increased dramatically in the last decades amid increasing awareness and knowledge about the disorder,” says Leela R. Magavi, MD, psychiatrist and Regional Medical Director for Community Psychiatry and MindPath Care Centers. “However, since the diagnosis is still relatively new, there has only been a limited number of small studies on the development of dementia in people with ADHD, often with conflicting results.” Dr. Magavi evaluates many children, adolescents, and adults who have ADHD, but do not have a family history of dementia or related disorders. “We need much more research to determine whether ADHD is linked to dementia,” she says. She encourages anybody who is concerned about their risk of dementia to prioritize their diet and exercise habits. “We have found that various conditions such as diabetes may be linked to dementia,” she explains. Women Are Often Left Out of the ADHD Conversation, Education Can Change That The Future of ADHD Research Experts welcome further research on the link between dementia and ADHD, but other areas of study are equally important. For instance, Dr. DeSilva believes the effect of trauma on the development of ADHD needs more attention. "Clearly, trauma affects brain development—even halting it in some areas of the brain," she says. Because ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, trauma may be a significant reason why some children develop ADHD, or do not "grow out of it." "Many symptoms of ADHD are the same as when a child is anxious or depressed (or undergoing continued trauma such as domestic violence, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional abuse)," Dr. DeSilva adds. "Understanding this connection between brain development, mood, trauma, anxiety, and attention will help us develop treatments and preventive interventions to promote the health and wellbeing of our children." What This Means For You While many causes of dementia are genetic, you can still do a lot to maintain good cognitive health. Experts recommend abstaining from smoking and excessive drinking, eating a healthy, balanced diet, exercising regularly, and managing health conditions like hypertension and diabetes.Keeping your mind active can also reduce your risk of dementia, by strengthening the brain against the threat of disease. Ways to challenge your brain include studying for a course, learning a new language, playing card games and board games, and making puzzles and crosswords part of your daily routine. Awareness and Allyship: It's a New Day for Neurodiversity 5 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Zhang L, Du Rietz E, Kuja‐Halkola R, et al. Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder and Alzheimer’s disease and any dementia: A multi‐generation cohort study in Sweden. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. Published online September 9, 2021. doi:10.1002/alz.12462 Fayyad J, Sampson NA, Hwang I, et al. The descriptive epidemiology of DSM-IV adult ADHD in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys. ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders. 2016;9(1). doi:10.1007/s12402-016-0208-3 Danielson ML, Bitsko RH, Ghandour RM, Holbrook JR, Kogan MD, Blumberg SJ. Prevalence of parent-reported ADHD diagnosis and associated treatment among U.S. children and adolescents, 2016. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. 2018;47(2). doi:10.1080/15374416.2017.1417860 Schilpzand EJ, Sciberras E, Alisic E, et al. Trauma exposure in children with and without ADHD: prevalence and functional impairment in a community-based study of 6–8-year-old Australian children. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 2017;27(6). doi:10.1007/s00787-017-1067-y Hussenoeder FS, Riedel-Heller SG. Primary prevention of dementia: from modifiable risk factors to a public brain health agenda? Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. 2018;53(12). doi:10.1007/s00127-018-1598-7 By Claire Gillespie Claire Gillespie is a freelance writer specializing in mental health. She’s written for The Washington Post, Vice, Health, Women’s Health, SELF, The Huffington Post, and many more. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist Online Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.