Study does not establish cause and effect, and experts say it highlights need for further research

Study does not establish cause and effect, and experts say it highlights need for further research

People who are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as adults could be at greater risk of developing dementia later in life, research suggests.

While experts cautioned that the study did not establish whether the apparent link was cause and effect, they say it highlights the need to explore possible connections further and examine whether ADHD medications mitigate any potential dementia risk.

The results come from a study of the medical records of more than 100,000 people, which found those diagnosed with ADHD as adults appear to have almost three times the risk of being diagnosed with dementia later in life.

      • soren446@lemmy.world
        6·
        1 year ago

        Oh my goodness I’m so sorry. I used to work with dementia patients in college and it runs in my family. Thankfully I’ve seen patients who’ve lived for a decade or two after being diagnosed. Although time and quality of life depends on the diagnosis and treatment success along with other health factors. Frustratingly, brains are complicated so research isn’t moving fast enough.

        If you are taking medications to mitigate symptoms or delay the onset I hope they help and that your outlook is long. Just don’t stop taking them without talking to your doctor first, even if it doesn’t seem like they help much. My uncle deteriorated quickly because he thought the meds weren’t helping and quit without telling anyone.

        Wish I could hug you or help or something. Try to stay positive as much as you can and I hope for the best possible outcome for you.

    • captainlezbian@lemmy.worldEnglish
      13·
      1 year ago

      Yeah, unstable living, drug/alcohol/tobacco addiction, bad sleep, stress, abuse, etc. I’d be surprised if they didn’t have higher rates

  • vmaziman@lemm.eeEnglish
    8·
    1 year ago

    I wonder if there’s any correlation to mobility issues or inability to work/do consistent labour on personal projects that is typically seen with very advanced aging. I didn’t get a diagnosis until I was fully grown,(despite definitely having symptoms from early childhood) and I know if I was unable to work or put in consistent effort or unable to be mobile and go places I’d go fuckin insane with boredom and probably fall into a depressive hole liable to fall into mental dengradation

    • vmaziman@lemm.eeEnglish
      6·
      1 year ago

      I also wonder if this is correlated with generational activities, older generations may have not had as many activities to do inside with limited mobility as younger generations do (computers internet games etc)

    • SkyeStarfall@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      31·
      1 year ago

      But adhd doesn’t really prevent you from having hobbies or personal projects. It does make it hard to work and survive in the labour system we have today though, at least hard to not get stressed the hell out.

      If I had much more free time and less stuff demanded to me and sapping my energy, I’d happily work away at a bunch of personal projects or other stuff. And in the times where I had such freedom, I did. But now that I’m stressed and bogged down by the working everyday, I do little, and it sucks.

      • GlendatheGayWitch@lib.lgbtEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        I wish it worked that way for me. Adhd makes it so difficult to have and keep hobbies and projects. At work things get done because there’s rigid deadlines, which don’t exist in a hobby.