Symptoms can be slowed with medication but not completely eliminated. It’s considered a progressive disease, meaning the symptoms become more severe over time. Many people may already have successful methods of ADHD management by the time they start to experience symptoms of dementia.ĭementia is most commonly seen in older adults, though rare cases of early onset dementia may start around ages 30 to 40.īy this time, you may have already been managing ADHD for several decades. In some cases, medications may be recommended to manage your symptoms while you develop new behavioral strategies. Living with ADHD and dementia may mean managing both conditions simultaneously.ĪDHD symptom severity can lessen as you age, but long-term management often starts with behavioral therapy, regardless of age. If no other underlying causes are found, you may be given a dementia diagnosis based on the number and severity of symptoms you’re experiencing in your day-to-day life. Other laboratory and diagnostic imaging tests may be ordered to determine whether there are physical changes that may account for the symptoms you’re experiencing. You may be asked to speak with a mental health professional to rule out other conditions that may cause cognitive symptoms, such as depression and ADHD.įrom there, cognitive and neurologic functioning tests may be recommended to evaluate processes such as: If you feel as though you’ve been more forgetful than what’s typical for you, speaking with a healthcare professional will help identify any underlying causes. Dementiaĭementia is more than just forgetfulness, though that may be an early symptom of the condition. If you’re an adult who suspects you ’re living with ADHD, your current symptoms and your childhood behavior patterns may all be a part of determining an ADHD diagnosis. It may be more difficult to diagnose adult ADHD because symptoms may not be as obvious, or they may present in different ways, such as restlessness rather than overt hyperactivity. While there’s no definitive test for ADHD, if you were diagnosed as a child, it was likely because you displayed behavior patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity. The authors of the study noted this may suggest there are genetic pathways implicated in both ADHD and dementia, even if a singular common variant hasn’t yet been discovered.ĪDHD and dementia are separate diagnoses.ĪDHD is most often diagnosed during childhood when symptoms present in supervised settings, such as at school and at home. A 2021 multigenerational study found that parents of a child living with ADHD have a 34% higher chance of developing dementia and a 55% higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease, specifically. There’s some research that links having ADHD to a higher chance of experiencing dementia later in life.Ī 2017 study in Taiwan found that adults living with ADHD were about three times more likely to develop dementia.Įxperts believe that genetics influence this link between ADHD and dementia. These differences can occur naturally through biology or genetics.ĭementia, on the other hand, is caused by the slow and progressive deterioration of the brain’s communication pathways through various mechanisms of damage.įor example, in Alzheimer’s disease - a form of dementia - protein accumulation outside of brain cells can affect cellular health and function.ĪDHD and dementia do not cause one another. A 2017 study found that structural differences in the frontal lobe of the brain may contribute to symptoms.Ī 2011 review suggests that lower levels of neurotransmitters - dopamine and norepinephrine - may also contribute to some ADHD symptoms, such as difficulty concentrating. There is some research that suggests differences in the brain may play a role in ADHD. The exact cause of ADHD isn’t yet known, but experts believe it’s likely a combination of factors such as genetics, brain injuries, and co-occurring conditions. While both ADHD and dementia can present with cognitive symptoms, the mechanisms behind them are very different.
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