BITESIZE: ADHD and Dementia: Is Brain Metabolism the Link?

A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that adults with ADHD had more than a fourfold higher association with cognitive impairment and dementia later in life. The finding doesn't mean ADHD causes dementia, but it raises important questions about what these conditions may share biologically.

In this video, Dr. Bret Scher breaks down the study and explores one possible connection: brain energy metabolism.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 187,000 adults and also found that people with a higher genetic risk for ADHD had a 35% greater likelihood of cognitive decline, even without an ADHD diagnosis. Dr. Scher explains why these findings may point toward shared biological pathways involving glucose metabolism, mitochondrial function, insulin sensitivity, and the brain’s ability to meet its energy needs.

He covers:

• What the study found about ADHD and later cognitive decline
• Why association doesn't establish causation
• The possible connection between ADHD, brain energy metabolism, and dementia
• How sleep, chronic stress, and metabolic health may influence long-term brain health
• Why ketogenic therapy is being explored as a way to provide the brain with an additional fuel source
• How exercise and sleep may support brain metabolic function
• Why this research makes early attention to metabolic health worth considering

The research connecting ADHD, metabolism, and dementia is still developing. For people living with ADHD, these findings offer another reason to think about long-term brain health and the metabolic factors that may be modifiable over time.

👉 Interested in learning more about the potential connection between ADHD and metabolic health? Check out our blog: https://www.metabolicmind.org/resources/library/blog/stories/ketogenic-therapy-for-adhd/

🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

#ADHD #Dementia #MetabolicHealth #MetabolicMind

Expert Featured:

Bret Scher, MD - Baszucki Group Medical Director & Host of the Metabolic Mind Podcast

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-scher-08baaa102/
• https://www.instagram.com/drscher858/?hl=en
• https://x.com/bschermd

Resources Mentioned:

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Late-Life Cognitive Impairment

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2854889

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/

About us:

Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.