ADHD linked to family dementia

CHILDREN with behavioural problems are more likely to have grandparents with dementia, according to a study.

Older relatives of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including parents and grandparents, were 34 per cent more likely to develop dementia, say scientists.

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm analysed data from three million people born in Sweden between 1980 and 2001, and looked for links between the three per cent diagnosed with ADHD and the health conditions suffered by their older relatives.

ADHD affects about five per cent of children in the UK, causing restlessness, difficulty concentrating and impulsivity.

While scientists could not confirm a direct link, they suggest an undiscovered gene pattern may be at play.