Impact of the polygenic risk scores for attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder in Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Epidemiological studies indicate a link between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and elevated risk of dementia. However, the impact of ADHD on cognition and Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers in individuals with cognitive impairment remains unclear. METHODS: We computed weighted ADHD polygenic risk scores (ADHD-PRS) in 938 cognitively impaired participants (674 mild cognitive impairment [MCI] and 264 dementia; mean age 73.5 years). A subset underwent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis for amyloid beta (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau, as well as fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ([18F]FDG-PET). RESULTS: We observed lower executive function in individuals with high ADHD-PRS for both MCI and dementia participants. Higher levels of CSF phosphorylated tau, but not Aβ, were observed in dementia participants with higher ADHD-PRS. Increased ADHD-PRS was associated with glucose hypometabolism in the frontal and parietal cortices. DISCUSSION: ADHD-PRS is associated with a more severe disease presentation in individuals with cognitive impairment due to dementia, characterized by impaired executive function, elevated tau pathology, and hypometabolism in the frontal and parietal cortices.