Adult ADHD significantly increases risk of Lewy body dementia

February, 2011

Nearly half of those with dementia with Lewy bodies were found to have had adult ADHD — three times the rate of controls and those with Alzheimer’s.

A study involving 360 patients with degenerative dementia (109 people with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and 251 with Alzheimer's) and 149 matched controls, has found that 48% of those with DLB had previously suffered from adult ADHD. This compares with 15% found in both the control group and the group with Alzheimer's. DLB tends to be under-diagnosed, but is thought to account for around 10% of dementia cases in older people.

ADHD and DLB are thought to both involve the same neurotransmitter pathway problems.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-01/w-aas011811.php

Reference: 

[2099] Golimstok, A., Rojas J. I., Romano M., Zurru M. C., Doctorovich D., & Cristiano E.
(2011).  Previous adult attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder symptoms and risk of dementia with Lewy bodies: a case-control study.
European Journal of Neurology. 18(1), 78 - 84.

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