New Study Links ADHD to More Than Fourfold Higher Hazard of Cognitive Impairment

Dr. Daniel Amen calls for greater attention to lifelong brain health following research involving more than 187,000 adults.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A new JAMA Psychiatry study of 187,341 adults aged 50 and older found that 6.7% of participants diagnosed with ADHD developed mild cognitive impairment or dementia, compared with 3.4% without ADHD. After statistical adjustment, an ADHD diagnosis was associated with a 4.6-fold higher hazard of cognitive impairment.

For psychiatrist and brain imaging expert Daniel G. Amen, MD, founder of Amen Clinics, the findings reinforce a message he has championed for decades: Mental health is brain health.

"For too long, ADHD has been treated primarily as a problem with attention, behavior, or motivation," said Dr. Amen. "But ADHD is a brain-based condition. When we ignore the brain and the other risk factors that threaten it, we may miss opportunities to protect people's memory, mood, and long-term health."

Brain Imaging and Early Awareness

Dr. Amen's clinical approach includes brain SPECT imaging, which measures patterns of cerebral blood flow and activity. He believes evaluating brain function alongside symptoms, health history and risk factors can support a more individualized approach to care. The new study did not examine SPECT, and SPECT is not an established screening test for predicting dementia decades before symptoms appear.

"One of the most important lessons from our brain imaging work is that people with similar symptoms can have very different patterns of brain function," Amen said. "If you want to understand a person's behavior, you must also consider the health and function of the organ that produces it."

The 11 BRIGHT MINDS Risk Factors

Dr. Amen's BRIGHT MINDS framework highlights 11 areas relevant to brain health: Blood flow, Retirement and aging, Inflammation, Genetics, Head trauma, Toxins, Mental health, Immunity and infections, Neurohormones, Diabesity, and Sleep. ADHD may make certain health routines and coexisting conditions more difficult to manage, which makes individualized assessment especially important.

"ADHD does not automatically cause all 11 BRIGHT MINDS risk factors," Amen explained. "But it can make some of them more likely or harder to manage. And when risk factors accumulate, protecting the brain becomes even more important."

ADHD Is Not a Dementia Diagnosis

The observational study does not establish that ADHD causes Alzheimer's disease or dementia, and it does not determine whether ADHD treatment prevents cognitive decline. Dr. Amen encourages adults to discuss new or progressive memory symptoms with a qualified clinician and address modifiable health risks, including physical inactivity, high blood pressure, metabolic conditions, insufficient sleep, harmful substance use and untreated mental health concerns.

"Having ADHD does not mean dementia is inevitable," Amen said. "It means we should be more intentional about protecting the brain. The earlier we identify and address the risks, the more opportunities we have to support a healthier future."

His Amen WHOLE-4 approach also emphasizes Brain and Body, Mind, Relationships and Spirit. With National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month approaching in November, Dr. Amen hopes the research sparks earlier conversations about lifelong cognitive health.

About Dr. Daniel G. Amen

Daniel G. Amen, MD, is a double board-certified psychiatrist, founder and CEO of Amen Clinics, and an author and educator on brain health. For more than 40 years, he has advocated for integrating brain biology, mental health, lifestyle and brain imaging into psychiatric care.

More information: AmenClinics.com | Dr. Amen on Instagram

Media Contact

Jordyn Dean | Publicist, Amen Clinics | [email protected]

Research: Bauer-Negrini G, et al., JAMA Psychiatry (October 7, 2026)

SOURCE Amen Clinics, Inc.