AUTHOR=Callahan Brandy L. , Shammi Prathiba , Taylor Rebecca , Ramakrishnan Nayani , Black Sandra E. 

TITLE=Longitudinal Cognitive Performance of Older Adults With ADHD Presenting to a Cognitive Neurology Clinic: A Case Series of Change Up to 21 Years

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2021.726374

DOI=10.3389/fnagi.2021.726374

ISSN=1663-4365

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> The neuropsychological features of older adults with ADHD are largely unknown. This retrospective chart review aims to elucidate their cognitive trajectories using a case series of six older adults with ADHD presenting with memory complaints to a cognitive neurology clinic, whom we argue are a particularly relevant group to study due to their potential to mimic neurodegenerative syndromes.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Participants were included if they were age 40 or older at intake, had ADHD based on DSM-5 criteria, and had cognitive data collected prior to 2014 with follow-up at least 5 years later.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Five men and one woman were included (<italic>M</italic> = 53.8 years at intake) and had an average of 135.0 months of follow-up data available. Despite notable between- and within-subject variability, cognition generally improved or remained stable across visits. Two participants experienced notable memory decline, but a global consideration of their performance in other domains suggests these deficits may be frontally-mediated.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> In this small sample, cognition remained generally unchanged across 5–21 years. Isolated impairments likely reflect substantial intra-individual variability across time and measures.</p>