Did Leonardo da Vinci Have ADHD?

“I have always felt it is my destiny to build a machine that would allow man to fly.” – Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

Da Vinci was a man of many talents. Born in Florence, Italy, da Vinci dabbled in both the arts and sciences. His artistic contributions to our modern-day culture include the Mona Lisa, the Last Supper, and the Vitruvian Man. All of his works influenced many other aspiring artists in the Renaissance period. When he wasn’t painting or sculpting, he was writing down inventions in his notebook way ahead of his time. He created his flying machine 400 years before the Wright brothers successfully sustained flight across the pond in North Carolina. In his later years, he designed the palace and garden of Romorantin in France.

It’s not all that often where you see someone in their career well-rounded in multiple areas of studies. Da Vinci’s behavior piqued the interest of researchers who now believe that he exhibited the behavior of someone who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, better known as ADHD. How credible is this claim? Keep reading and you’ll see.

What is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

More commonly discussed with school-age children, PsychCentral describes ADHD as such, “ADHD is characterized by symptoms that include the inability to keep one’s attention focused on a task, trouble organizing tasks, avoiding things that take effort, and follow-through. ADHD may also include problems with hyperactivity (fidgeting, excessive talking, restlessness) and impulsivity (difficulty waiting one’s turn or with patience, interrupting others). It is typically treated with stimulant medications, such as Ritalin, and psychotherapy.” Some people with ADHD experience what medical professionals refer to as “hyperfocus.” Hyperfocus occurs when a person is highly focused on something that interests them. They find themselves unable to stop what they are doing (work, hobbies, etc.).  

What evidence suggests da Vinci had ADHD?

One piece of evidence about da Vinci’s work method comes from the novelist Matteo Bandello. Bandello observed da Vinici while he was working on the Last Supper. He writes, “I have also seen him, as the caprice or whim took him, set out at midday, […] from the Corte Vecchio, where he was at work on the clay model of the great horse, and go straight to the Grazie and there mount on the scaffolding and take up his brush and give one or two touches to one of the figures and suddenly give up and go away again (Nicholl, 2004). Knowing what classifies as ADHD behavior, this entry indicates that it wasn’t the only time da Vinici exhibited this kind of behavior.

Researchers looked for more historical records like Bandello’s to find out more about how da Vinici functioned. Professor Marco Catani, from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at Kings College in London, examined da Vinci’s behavior in his paper published in volume 142 of Brain: A Journal of Neurology, Grey Matter Leonardo da Vinci: a genius driven to distraction. Catani says, “ADHD could explain aspects of Leonardo’s temperament and his strange mercurial genius.” Further evidence suggests that da Vinici wasn’t reliable and would procrastinate frequently. He used whit and humor and always had some excuse to tell someone who questioned his attentiveness. Once thought to be the behavior of any artist, researchers now believe he had the behavior of someone with ADHD.  

Are people with ADHD more creative?

In addition to da Vinci, other famous artists and inventors diagnosed with ADHD include Henry Ford, Alexander Graham Bell, Pablo Picasso, and Agatha Christie. Scientists believe that those who are less attentive and more prone to mind-wandering can lead to useful and new ideas. They also are more willing to take risks, approaching situations in a whole new way that can result in more efficient and innovative ways to solve problems.   

You may not have ADHD, but getting your thoughts organized for certain subjects or projects may take more effort than with others. Our Mind Mapping Course can help! Join mind-mapping expert and Iris Reading instructor Joseph Rodrigues for an in-depth look at how you can creatively use mind mapping for any objective you have. You’ll learn how to save time and get more done as a result of applying mind mapping concepts to everything that you do. Click the link to start creating your mind map today!