As a health writer who entered this field after years of battling to have my own symptoms taken seriously, I’m no stranger to the stark disparities in how men and women are diagnosed—and treated—for serious medical conditions. That, however, is a story for another time: Today, we’re here to talk about dementia risk factors.
Indeed, one common—yet often overlooked—condition can increase your risk for developing dementia by two to three times, according to recent studies. But here’s what concerns me about that: It’s something that’s especially under-diagnosed in women.
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How do I know? Well, studies and statistics, for one. But also because I’m one of those women: I was diagnosed much later in life than I should have been.
This Silent Condition May Triple Dementia Risk
The condition in question is ADHD, meaning, yes, I had to get through high school and college feeling like a failure. However as noted above, I’m far from alone: Boys are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD in childhood, according to CDC data. And unsurprisingly, this trend continues into adulthood: An estimated 55% of undiagnosed ADHD cases are in women.
As for why we’re talking about this now? Well, a brand-new study from the Psychiatric University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, has looked further into the ADHD–dementia connection—and offers fresh insight into why ADHD may accelerate cognitive decline with age.
Related: Women With This Condition May Be at Higher Risk of Dementia, According to Study
The Link Between ADHD and Dementia, Explained
Published in Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, the study builds on the previous research by examining whether adults with ADHD show early signs of brain changes linked to age-related brain decline—specifically, elevated iron levels in the brain, which have been associated with conditions like Alzheimer’s.
Researchers also looked for signs of neuroaxonal damage, or stress on the brain’s wiring, which could also point to an increased risk of cognitive decline.
To do so, researchers analyzed brain scans, blood samples, and lifestyle data from 32 adults diagnosed with ADHD (average age 35; 17 women, 15 men) and compared them to a control group of 29 adults without ADHD who were similar in age, gender and education level (21 women, eight men).
Related: This Common Problem May Actually Be an Early Sign of Dementia, According to a Neuroscientist
What They Found: Iron and Brain Cell Stress
Their findings? Adults with ADHD had significantly higher iron levels in certain areas of the brain, especially the right precentral cortex, which is involved in movement and attention.
What’s more, higher brain iron levels were linked to higher neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels in the blood—suggesting potential brain cell stress or damage in those with ADHD. There were no significant differences in lifestyle factors like BMI or smoking between the ADHD and control groups however, so the iron buildup was not due to those factors.
Translation? While iron accumulation in the brain is relatively normal with age, too much in the wrong places may signal long-term problems.
Related: What Women Should Know About Alzheimer’s Risk
What Does This Mean for People With ADHD?
If you—or someone you love—has ADHD, don’t panic: There are plenty of ways to mitigate the risk of cognitive decline that you can start now.
Monitor your brain health.
According to the study, proactively monitoring brain health—particularly for individuals with ADHD—could enable earlier intervention and prevention. Talk to a doctor about getting baseline cognitive tests like memory, attention and executive function assessments for some peace of mind. Alternatively, you start noticing changes like forgetfulness, confusion, attention dips—don’t ignore it. Seek medical attention as soon as something feels off.
Advocate for treatment if you have to.
Getting proper treatment is especially critical for women and other frequently underdiagnosed groups. If you suspect you might have ADHD, advocating strongly for a proper diagnosis or explanation could significantly impact your long-term brain health. Switch practitioners if you have to.
Related: This Everyday Pain Reliever Could Help Prevent Dementia
Stay on top of ADHD treatment.
Staying on top of ADHD treatment—whether that’s through medication, behavioral therapy or both—can help reduce the cognitive load and long-term stress on the brain. In fact, some evidence suggests that treating ADHD may help lower the risk of future cognitive issue.
Keep your brain engaged.
Stay sharp with hobbies that challenge you. Consider learning a new skill like playing an instrument, doing the crossword or trying some brain-boosting puzzles. Also be sure to see friends and maintain consistent social connection, as loneliness is a major risk factor for cognitive decline.
Related: Doing This for Just 5 Minutes a Day Can Lower Your Dementia Risk by 41%
Protect your brain with a healthy lifestyle.
Adults with ADHD are statistically more likely to have cardiovascular risk factors related to smoking, high BMI and poor sleep—and those same risk factors also increase dementia risk. Thus, addressing them can help both ADHD and brain aging.
Get ahead of them with regular exercise, eating an anti-inflammatory Mediterranean-style diet, getting quality sleep, managing stress levels, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol. Don’t worry, it’s not all so serious: You can (and should) also enjoy some brain-healthy chocolate.
Next Up:
Related: This Super Simple Diet Could Lower Your Alzheimer’s Risk by 53%