In France, between 3% and 5% of children attending primary school have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
This neuro-developmental disorder affects approximately 3 boys for 1 girl: it manifests itself by difficulty concentrating on a task for more than a few minutes, permanent restlessness and verbal and motor impulsivity. Children said to be “hyperactive” are “head in the air”, “restless”, “do not listen to instructions”, “climb everywhere” …
Children who suffer from hyperactivity are, on average, more likely than others to develop Parkinson’s disease early on, according to a new study from the University of Utah Health (in the United States) – that is, say before the age of 50.
To arrive at this conclusion, the American researchers analyzed medical data relating to 31,769 ADHD patients and 158,790 patients without ADHD, born between 1950 and 1992 in the United States.
An even higher risk in children taking Ritalin
Verdict? According to scientists, patients diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in childhood were approximately twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease between the ages of 20 and 66. Worse: in patients diagnosed with ADHD and placed on medication (Ritalin, for example), the risk was 6 to 8 times higher than average.
“Out of a group of 100,000 adults, we estimate that within a year, 1 to 2 people will develop Parkinson’s disease early,” explains Dr. Karen Curtis, lead author of this work. On the other hand, out of a group of 100,000 adults with ADHD taking medication with methylphenidate, we estimate that within a year, 8 to 9 people will develop the disease even before the age of 50. ” Frightening !
This work has been published in the specialist journal Neuropsychopharmacology.
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