Contents:
- Medical Video: Age-Activated Attention Deficit Disorder
- ADHD now, dementia later on?
- What is the relationship between ADHD in adults with dementia?
- Can dementia be prevented in ADHD cases in adults?
Medical Video: Age-Activated Attention Deficit Disorder
Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a brain disorder characterized by a group of behavioral symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity, and rashness. This disorder can certainly disrupt a person's function and development. At present, as many as 8 to 12 percent of children worldwide have been diagnosed with ADHD. However, there are still many cases of ADHD in adults.
According to a recent study, adults with ADHD have a greater risk of developing dementia or senility later in life, compared to adults without ADHD. Dementia, also known as senility, is a brain disorder characterized by a group of symptoms such as memory loss, difficulty in thinking, language disorders, and is unable to carry out daily activities.
Many diseases can cause dementia. Among them are Alzheimer's disease, circulatory disorders, diseases Lewy Body, and others. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are around 47 million people around the world affected by dementia.
ADHD now, dementia later on?
Researchers from the National Defense Medical Center in Taiwan, conducted research on 675 adults aged 18-54 years who had been diagnosed with ADHD and also more than 2,000 adults without ADHD. After ten years of observation, they found that adults with ADHD had a 3.4 times greater risk of developing dementia compared to adults without ADHD.
However, experts note that this study has limitations because the data they use has no information about other risk factors that might be related. For example family history of disease, education level, and diet patterns of study participants.
In 2011, similar results have also been found in research in Argentina. The experts found that as many as 63 percent of people with dementia also had symptoms of ADHD before.
What is the relationship between ADHD in adults with dementia?
Researchers in Argentina believe that ADHD in adults and dementia is closely related because of the similarity of neurotransmitter pathways in both conditions. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are responsible for carrying messages between neurons (brain nerve cells).
ADHD in adults is usually first diagnosed in childhood. Researchers estimate that ADHD is a clinical symptom that appears in the early stages of the disruption of the neurotransmitter pathway, and after the condition persists for a long time, this neurotransmitter pathway causes further damage. This damage changes the structure of the brain so that dementia may occur in adults with ADHD.
Can dementia be prevented in ADHD cases in adults?
The study has not been able to explain the causes and consequences of dementia in adults who have ADHD. However, because dementia itself can occur to anyone, regardless of ADHD cases in adults, it never hurts to learn various early symptoms of dementia. For example easy to forget, often losing words, and difficult to make decisions.
Check with your doctor immediately and seek medical attention if you experience symptoms of dementia above. The faster you detect it, the easier it will be to handle and treat you.
The next question that needs to be examined is whether treating ADHD symptoms in adults can also prevent the occurrence of dementia. Well, once again there is nothing wrong to keep dealing with ADHD symptoms in adults, although not necessarily able to prevent dementia with a success rate of up to one hundred percent.
Dealing with ADHD symptoms, for example by seeing a psychologist, undergoing therapy, or noticing ADHD nutritional needs, can improve the quality of life and ability of your brain.
You also have to maintain a healthy body by exercising frequently, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting enough rest. A healthy lifestyle can reduce the effect or delay the occurrence of diseases that cause dementia.
