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Adult ADHD significantly increases risk of Lewy body dementia

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

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. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-1331.2010.03064.x/abstract

seniors
Dementia with Lewy bodies
ADHD
Alzheimers

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