Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Dementia is a leading public health concern, with an estimated 1 million Canadians living with Dementia by 2030. Emerging evidence suggests individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at a greater risk for developing dementia, however, there remains a lack of examination into the mechanisms behind the association. Similarly, individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) report higher rates of dementia, however, limited research has examined aging past childhood. This study will be the first to characterize and compare mechanisms driving dementia risk in both older adults with FASD and ADHD. Adults aged 40 years and older with FASD (n=40), ADHD (n=40), and no diagnosis of any neurodevelopmental conditions (n=40) will complete a cognitive battery, brain imaging, blood sampling, and saliva collection to obtain data on cognitive domains, vascular burden (the combined impact of vascular risk factors such as obesity and vascular diseases), inflammatory markers and the stress hormone cortisol, respectively. Based on previous literature, it is hypothesized adults with ADHD and FASD are at a greater risk of accelerated aging and early functional decline due to greater susceptibility to the detrimental effects of vascular burden, modified by increased allostatic (chronic) stress and increased inflammation, respectively. Allostatic stress is associated with cognitive decline and inflammation is associated with dementia, yet no studies have examined the role of allostatic stress or inflammation in aging pathways in adults with ADHD or FASD despite their heightened risk for dementia. Early detection of those at greater risk for developing later-life dementia is crucial, as early intervention may slow the progression of this life-changing disease.