ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is usually diagnosed during one’s childhood, but more adults are being diagnosed with this condition. Experts have observed that among adults diagnosed with ADHD, the likelihood of developing dementia is heightened, but it hasn’t been clear why this is the case. Now a new study suggests a possible explanation for the increased possibility of dementia development among adult ADHD sufferers.
A press release issued by Prof. Paul Unschuld, who initiated this study, indicates that while epidemiological studies indicated a heightened risk of dementia development among adults diagnosed with ADHD, the mechanisms behind this link weren’t known. The research was aimed at providing some insights about these neurological mechanisms.
The researchers discovered that there are elevated iron levels in regions of the brain responsible for cognitive function in adults diagnosed with ADHD. The team also detected nerve damage biomarkers in blood samples taken from adults having ADHD. The biomarkers were no different from those present in blood samples taken from individuals diagnosed with dementia.
To arrive at their findings, the team enrolled 32 adults who had been diagnosed with ADHD. The age of the participants was between 20 and 58 years. They also enrolled 29 adults to serve as the control group. The control group broadly matched the ADHD enrollees in age.
All the study subjects underwent brain MRI tests, psychometric testing and lifestyle (BMI, smoking, etc.) assessment to identify factors that could impact blood vessel health within the brain. The group was also subjected to QSM scanning to measure iron deposits within the brain. They also conducted NfL (neurofilament light chain) measurements of blood samples to ascertain neuroaxonal integrity. High levels of NfL in blood depict damage to nerve fibers (axons).
The precentral cortex of ADHD study participants had elevated iron levels. Additionally, higher NfL levels were found in blood samples of the study subjects with ADHD. This indicated that the individuals had suffered nerve damage.
It should be noted that individuals with other neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s also exhibit high levels of NfL when their blood is tested. This suggests that most, if not all, conditions affecting the nervous system have similar mechanisms through which the nervous system is damaged. Studying these conditions concurrently could therefore yield better outcomes than looking at each condition in isolation from the others.
This study opens the possibility of exploring iron level regulation within the brain as a way to mitigate against the possibility of dementia development among adults that have been diagnosed with ADHD. Additional research on this could provide insights on how viable interventions to limit iron accumulation can be in preventing or slowing down dementia development and progression.
Drug development companies like Clene Inc. (NASDAQ: CLNN) could explore how neurodegenerative diseases can be treated using interventions aimed at correcting iron accumulation in the brain as people grow older.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Clene Inc. (NASDAQ: CLNN) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/CLNN
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