New study links ADHD to 4.6-fold higher hazard of cognitive impairment
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry followed more than 187,000 adults aged 50 and older and found that 6.7% of those with an ADHD diagnosis developed mild cognitive impairment or dementia, compared with 3.4% of those without. After statistical adjustment, ADHD was associated with a 4.6-fold higher hazard of cognitive impairment. The observational study does not establish that ADHD causes dementia or whether treatment changes this risk.
Source: Morningstar (PR Newswire)
Fewer than 1 in 15 teens in south London with a mental health disorder receive a formal NHS diagnosis
New research from King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience compared 15 years of NHS health records (2009–2024) for 17-year-olds in south London against population estimates from the E-Risk Longitudinal Twin Study. The share of teens receiving a formal diagnosis for any mental health disorder rose from 2.6% in 2009 to 4.4% in 2024, yet the vast majority of teens meeting diagnostic criteria remained unrecorded in specialist NHS care. Since formal diagnosis is often the gateway to evidence-based treatment, the gap points to significant unmet need among adolescents.
Source: South London News
Global survey: cost and stigma still the top barriers to seeking mental health care
AXA Global Healthcare's 2026 Mind Health Report, a survey of 19,000 people across 18 countries, finds that a third of people with a mental health concern who had not seen a professional said the cost of consultations and treatment stopped them, while 15% cited fear of stigma or being judged. The barriers vary widely by country: cost blocked half of respondents in Mexico but only 15% in Germany. The survey also found growing use of AI tools as an alternative route to information and support, particularly among people living outside their country of birth.
Source: CRWE World (Media OutReach Newswire)