MINI REVIEW article
Front. Dement.
Sec. Aging and Risk Factors for Dementia
Adult ADHD as a risk factor for dementia: integrating longitudinal evidence, mechanistic insights, and the role of stimulant treatment
Provisionally accepted
- 1Universidad Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- 2Hospital Italiano de Buenos AIres, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasingly recognized as a persistent neurodevelopmental condition with long-term implications for cognitive aging and dementia risk. Epidemiological and longitudinal studies indicate that adults with ADHD have a higher incidence of non-amnestic dementia subtypes, including Lewy body disease, and may be particularly susceptible to age-related cognitive decline. Convergent mechanistic evidence implicates dopaminergic dysregulation, possible Wnt/mTOR pathway alterations, oxidative stress, and chronic neuroinflammation as shared biological pathways linking ADHD to neurodegeneration. Psychiatric comorbidities, lifestyle factors, and reduced cognitive reserve may further amplify vulnerability, decreasing the brain's resilience to neuropathological insults. Preliminary data suggest that stimulant treatments, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine derivatives, may attenuate dementia risk by normalizing dopaminergic tone, enhancing cortical plasticity, and reducing oxidative stress, although randomized trials are needed to confirm these protective effects. Emerging biomarker and genetic studies, including polygenic ADHD risk scores, α-synuclein, amyloid/tau, and GBA mutations, offer opportunities for early detection, risk stratification, and mechanistic insights. Integrating epidemiological, neuroimaging, molecular, and pharmacological data could guide targeted preventive interventions, highlighting ADHD as a developmental and potentially modifiable risk factor for late-life neurodegenerative disorders.
Keywords: Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, biomarkers, Cognitive Reserve, Lewy Body Disease, Wnt/mTOR pathway
Received: 29 Oct 2025; Accepted: 30 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Golimstok and Berrios. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Waleska Berrios
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