Verbal memory performance in adolescents and adults with ADHD

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is commonly associated with working memory deficits.
• Emerging evidence suggests other memory systems may also be impaired in ADHD.
• Understanding these broader memory impairments is crucial for comprehensive ADHD assessment and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare memory performance across various domains (working, short-term, initial learning, interference, delayed, recognition) between adults/adolescents with ADHD and controls.
• To investigate the association of ADHD severity, depressive symptoms, IQ, and physical fitness with memory performance in individuals with ADHD.

Main Methods:

• 205 participants with ADHD and 50 controls completed cognitive tasks including digit span forward/backward and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test.
• Participants with ADHD were also assessed for ADHD severity, depression, and cardiorespiratory fitness.
• Regression analyses were used to examine associations between variables.

Main Results:

• Individuals with ADHD demonstrated significant deficits in working memory (digit span forward/backward) and delayed memory compared to controls.
• Initial learning and interference memory were preserved in the ADHD group.
• Recognition memory showed a potential deficit, though not consistently significant after sensitivity analyses.
• IQ was positively correlated with most memory measures, while cardiorespiratory fitness showed negative associations with several learning/memory variables.

Conclusions:

• ADHD is associated with broader memory impairments than previously recognized, affecting working, short-term, and delayed memory.
• While initial learning appears intact, recognition memory may be subtly affected.
• Cognitive abilities (IQ) and physical fitness are linked to memory performance in individuals with ADHD, highlighting potential targets for intervention.