Experts have warned of an ADHD \u201cdiagnosis gap\u201d in people aged 65 and over.<\/p>\n
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a form of neurodivergence<\/a> characterised by a pattern of symptoms<\/a> such as inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity. <\/p>\n It\u2019s estimated 2.6 million people in the UK<\/a> have ADHD, almost 700,000 of which are children.<\/p>\n A study<\/a> published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe highlighted there\u2019s been a substantial rise in ADHD diagnoses across the UK.<\/p>\n But despite this, there remains a significant under-recognition of the condition in the over-65s, with just 0.05% of this age group diagnosed with ADHD.<\/p>\n Study author Dr Gavin Stewart said the findings \u201cmirror what we see in other types of neurodivergence, such as autism, where upwards of 90% of middle-aged and older people are likely to not be formally recognised as being autistic\u201d.<\/p>\n Dr Hugo de Waal, consultant psychiatrist at Berkeley Psychiatrists<\/a>, said the findings \u201creflect something many clinicians have observed for years: ADHD does not disappear with age, but recognition of it has historically been much lower among older adults\u201d.<\/p>\n He highlighted that many people in this age bracket grew up during a time when ADHD was poorly understood and also largely viewed as a childhood behavioural condition.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a result, countless individuals may have spent decades attributing difficulties with organisation, attention, emotional regulation or task management to personal shortcomings rather than an underlying condition,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Harvard Health noted<\/a> that older adults with ADHD might struggle with attention issues, poor memory, and planning. What once might\u2019ve been considered hyperactivity can evolve into inner restlessness<\/a>. They might find themselves struggling to recognise social cues or manage their emotions. <\/p>\n \u201cThey may struggle with finishing projects or remembering information consistently, and they may become distracted during conversations and experience difficulty maintaining relationships,\u201d added Harvard Health. <\/p>\n The risk of remaining undiagnosed<\/p>\n Experts are increasingly seeing what they\u2019ve dubbed \u201clate-life decompensation\u201d in older adults, who have successfully compensated for ADHD traits throughout their lives, often supported by the external structure of a demanding career, established routines, or a partner who helps manage day-to-day responsibilities.<\/p>\n But retirement, bereavement, declining health, or other major life transitions can remove that structure.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen this happens, long-standing coping strategies may become less effective, leaving individuals feeling unexpectedly overwhelmed by planning, decision-making and everyday tasks,\u201d said Dr de Waal.<\/p>\n \u201cThis can sometimes present as severe anxiety, low mood or treatment-resistant depression, where ADHD may be an underlying contributing factor.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Stewart added that diagnosis \u201coften acts as a gatekeeper to receiving timely help and support\u201d which may be particularly important as people age and their support needs change.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, the majority of ageing neurodivergent people will not have received a diagnosis and be unsupported, which needs to be urgently addressed,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n The tide is turning, slowly<\/p>\n