ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ADHD AND DEMENTIA SYNDROME: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is frequently diagnosed in children and young people, but it can persist into adulthood and be mistaken for dementia. Dementia involves progressive memory loss and cognitive impairment, and both conditions share symptoms such as memory difficulties and challenges with daily tasks. Recent studies suggest that ADHD may be a risk factor for developing dementia. This study aims to explore the clinical implications that support the association between ADHD and Dementia Syndromes in the elderly, with the goal of improving diagnostic accuracy in patients with similar symptoms.To this end, a systematic review was conducted, including searches for articles, clinical studies, cohort studies, and case-control studies. Studies published between 2010 and 2024 in the Cochrane, Elsevier, and PubMed databases were selected. The initial search found 192 articles, of which only 5 were included after the selection process. Among the included articles, 2 were cohort studies, 2 case-control studies, and 1 cross-sectional study. The results show an increased risk of dementia development in patients with ADHD or a high genetic risk for developing ADHD. One of the articles ruled out the possibility that both conditions share the same genetic etiology, reinforcing the causal relationship between the presence of ADHD throughout life and dementia. The analysis of the studies revealed an association between ADHD and an increased risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment. However, more studies with larger samples and longer patient follow-up periods are needed, as it is believed that this is a progressive and slow process, in order to better clarify and understand this relationship.