A large retrospective U.S. study links attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with an increased risk of developing dementia or mild cognitive impairment in later life. The research draws on health records for more than 187,000 participants and reports that people with ADHD face a higher likelihood of cognitive decline than those without the diagnosis.
The outlets summarize the findings with somewhat different figures, ranging from about three times to more than fourfold higher risk, and mention possible estimates up to four times. Medical Xpress adds that the association extends to people with higher genetic risk for ADHD, who may show greater risk of later cognitive impairment even without a documented ADHD diagnosis. The study is reported as published in JAMA Psychiatry, and the coverage focuses on association rather than proof of causation or a specific mechanism.
