Overall, ADHD was associated with a 2.4-fold increased risk of basal ganglia and cerebellar (BG&C) diseases.People with no prior PD diagnosis or symptoms, no basal ganglia/cerebellar disease and those with a history of substance abuse were excluded from participating in the study. In this 20-year follow-up retrospective cohort study, a total of 190,586 patient records (31,796 with ADHD and 158,790 without ADHD) from Utah were examined. So, are ADHD and PD somehow connected? Perhaps.Ī recently published study in the journal, Neuropsychopharmacology, sought to determine if having ADHD and/or its treatment, increases the risk of having basal ganglia and cerebellar diseases. The cerebellum: involved in movement and coordination, walking, posture, reflexes, and eye and head movement it also sends instructions to our muscles that adjusts our posture and keeps our bodies moving smoothly.Īdults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been shown to have damaged dopamine neurons in the basil ganglia, and, commonly have cerebellar abnormalities, much like people with Parkinson’s disease (PD).The basal ganglia: messengers that sort out information for the spinal cord and cerebellum and are associated with various functions, including motor control, motor learning, executive functions and behaviors, and emotions.Two parts within our brain require healthy dopamine regulation and transmission to do their jobs: All Science News articles summarize a research study and are not an official opinion, endorsement or position of the Parkinson’s Foundation’s.