Did Leonardo da Vinci have ADHD? Hypotheses, evidence and studies

July 10, 2026

Some scholars have suggested that Leonardo da Vinci may have had ADHD. From documented behaviours and unfinished works to neurological studies, here is what we know about this intriguing hypothesis.

Leonardo da Vinci is celebrated for his extraordinary genius, yet some researchers believe that many aspects of his behaviour are consistent with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). From unfinished masterpieces and an insatiable curiosity to his constant shifts between projects and sometimes difficult relationships with patrons, his life offers several clues that have led scholars to explore this possibility. But what is ADHD, which features of Leonardo’s life support this theory, and what do researchers say today?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What is ADHD?
• Which of Leonardo’s behaviours suggest ADHD?
• How might ADHD have influenced Leonardo’s creativity?
• What do scholars say about Leonardo and ADHD?
• Did Leonardo da Vinci really have ADHD?

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by difficulties in maintaining attention, impulsivity and, in some cases, hyperactivity. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the diagnosis is based on persistent symptoms such as marked inattention, difficulty organising tasks and commitments, procrastination, losing everyday objects and struggling to complete activities that have already been started.

ADHD is far more than simple distractibility. It is a condition that can affect daily life, relationships and performance at work or school. Today it is usually diagnosed during childhood or adolescence, although it can also be identified in adults, where it often appears as mental restlessness, compulsive multitasking, a tendency to postpone certain tasks and frequently moving from one project to another without finishing them.

Applying this profile retrospectively, some researchers have suggested that Leonardo may have shown characteristics compatible with ADHD.

Which of Leonardo’s behaviours suggest ADHD?

Many biographers have pointed out that Leonardo left numerous works unfinished, including Saint Jerome in the Wilderness, The Adoration of the Magi and The Battle of Anghiari. This has led to the suggestion that he often abandoned one project in order to pursue another.

Giorgio Vasari himself wrote that Leonardo “began many things and finished none of them”, describing a restless mind that rarely found peace. His relationships with powerful patrons such as Ludovico Sforza were also sometimes complicated by his inability to deliver commissions within the agreed deadlines.

Leonardo’s notebooks also reveal constant shifts from one subject to another. His interests ranged from anatomy and hydraulics to botany, mechanics, architecture, music and even astrology. Such extraordinary curiosity may simply reflect his wide-ranging intellect, but it could also indicate a form of creative dispersion which, together with his difficulties in meeting deadlines, resembles what today might be described as attention deficit symptoms.

How might ADHD have influenced Leonardo’s creativity?

The characteristics now associated with ADHD are often experienced as obstacles in everyday study and work. In Leonardo’s case, however, they may also have contributed to his exceptional creativity.

His boundless curiosity and constant search for new intellectual stimulation encouraged him to explore fields of knowledge that many of his contemporaries ignored. Moreover, although people with ADHD often struggle with procrastination and frequently move from one project to another, the condition is also associated with periods of hyperfocus, during which intense concentration on a specific interest can produce remarkable results. Leonardo’s studies of anatomy, flying machines, warfare, music and many other subjects may therefore have been the product of these periods of total immersion.

The alternation between enthusiasm and abandoning projects, rather than representing a weakness, may have helped make Leonardo an innovator capable of combining art, science and engineering in ways that were unprecedented for his time.

What do scholars say about Leonardo and ADHD?

The hypothesis that Leonardo may have had ADHD was proposed by Marco Catani and Paolo Mazzarello in a study published in the journal Brain in 2019. The authors examined Leonardo’s biographies, letters and notebooks, comparing them with modern diagnostic criteria.

According to the researchers, the combination of behaviours such as procrastination, intense curiosity across many different subjects, irregular sleep patterns and a tendency to move continuously from one project to another could be compatible with ADHD, possibly involving both inattentive and mentally restless features.

Other historians, however, urge caution. They argue that applying modern medical concepts to historical figures is inherently problematic and risks oversimplification. Characteristics such as unfinished works may just as easily be explained by perfectionism, technical difficulties or financial constraints rather than by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Did Leonardo da Vinci really have ADHD?

Trying to determine whether Leonardo had ADHD is not about assigning a medical diagnosis to one of history’s greatest geniuses, but about gaining a deeper understanding of the way his extraordinary mind may have worked.

The question remains unanswered because there is no direct evidence and, naturally, no clinical diagnosis. As we have seen, Leonardo’s countless interests and unfinished works make the hypothesis both plausible and fascinating. Whether or not he had ADHD, there is little doubt that he possessed an exceptional mind and a truly unique personality.

This article was originally published in Italian on 25 June 2025

You can read the Italian version of this article here >