For years, it was thought that ADHD only affected children. It’s now known that while ADHD begins in childhood, it can carry into adulthood as well.
As you age, you may start to notice more frequent bouts of forgetfulness or absent-mindedness. Maybe it’s harder to stay organized or to keep track of appointments. While it is possible that these could be signs of the onset of dementia or other cognitive decline, it may also just be a normal part of aging.
However, many adults with these symptoms may be dealing with undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder—or ADHD.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a mental health condition that begins in childhood. It’s known to impact daily functioning, especially when it comes to concentration. While ADHD can look a little different in everyone, there are 3 core symptoms:
- Inattention. People with ADHD find it hard to focus on tasks. They may get easily distracted or forget things.
- Hyperactivity. ADHD can cause a person to be much more active than usual. They may feel restless. Sitting still for any amount of time can be difficult.
- Impulsivity. Someone with ADHD may make quick decisions without first thinking of the consequences.
ADHD affects people of all ages
For some time, it was thought ADHD only affected children. It’s now known that anywhere from 40 to 60 percent of kids with ADHD will continue to show symptoms into adulthood.
But sometimes these symptoms change with adulthood. Some people may assume they’ve outgrown it, when in fact the ADHD just looks a little different.
On the other hand, many adults with ADHD may not even realize they have it. Most of the time this is because they were simply not diagnosed as a child. Some children may have been thought of as “overactive” when they were younger, but that’s as far as the diagnosis went.
ADHD symptoms in adults
An overactive child might act out in class because they have trouble sitting still all day. But as an adult, you have a bit more control over the environment in which you choose to spend your days. An adult who doesn’t feel comfortable sitting in one spot all day is more likely to choose a career that better suits them.
The ability to keep ADHD symptoms in check (whether you know you have it or not) is one reason why it may not be as noticeable in an adult. But other symptoms may still be present.
Adults with ADHD may still make impulsive choices or have difficulty paying attention. If you find it difficult to focus or easily grow impatient, notice if you have any of these symptoms as well:
- Often disorganized
- Difficulty prioritizing tasks
- Frequent mood swings
- Struggling to complete tasks
- Poor time management skills
- Trouble dealing with stress
- Distracted during conversations
- Procrastination
Diagnosing adult ADHD
ADHD presents itself in a range of levels and symptoms. For some, it may seem obvious. Others, not so much. If you suspect that ADHD may be a cause of disruption in your life, it’s important to talk with your doctor. They can steer you toward an accurate diagnosis and suggest ways to manage the condition.
As with many mental health conditions, there is no single test to evaluate whether you have ADHD. There are many steps involved before a diagnosis can be made so try to avoid self-diagnosing. A doctor or therapist will work through the process with you. These steps may include one or more of the following:
- Examination of personal history. One of the first things to know is whether you’ve shown signs of ADHD as a child. Because ADHD does not begin in adulthood, it’s important to find out if your symptoms have always been present.
- Current symptoms. As noted, the 3 main signs of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Because some adults unknowingly mask some of these symptoms, you might not be aware you have them. Your doctor will ask questions to figure this out.
- Mental health exam. This can help rule out other conditions that may be the cause of ADHD symptoms. However, nearly half of adults who have ADHD also have other mental health conditions.
- Screening tools. Many healthcare providers use a set of guidelines created by the American Psychiatric Association called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (“DSM-5”) to help diagnose ADHD. This screening tool helps healthcare providers properly diagnose several mental health conditions, including ADHD.
This is not a complete list of the steps taken to determine if ADHD is present. Rather, it’s a basic overview of some of the methods your provider may use to diagnose ADHD.
Managing adult ADHD
While there is no cure for ADHD, there are many treatment options to consider. The first step is to talk with your doctor. They’ll likely refer you to a mental health professional who specializes in adult ADHD. This specialist will work with you to find the best treatment options for your needs.
There is no single treatment for ADHD. A combination of treatments might be needed. These may include:
- Behavioral therapy. Staying educated about ADHD is an important step in treating it. A mental health therapist or counselor can help you find ways to better understand your condition. They can teach you strategies to better cope with ADHD and manage your behaviors.
- Medication. For some, prescribed drugs can help relieve ADHD symptoms. But taking meds may not be for everyone. Some people may have unpleasant side effects. However, if your ADHD symptoms are severe and impacting your life, this may be the right option. (Note that only a doctor can prescribe meds for this type of treatment).
- Lifestyle changes. Eating healthy foods, sleeping well, and exercising regularly are helpful habits for everyone. And they’re a major part of managing ADHD.
Learn how engaging in other healthy habits can have a big impact on your brain health.
Recognizing ADHD triggers
Another way you can help manage your ADHD symptoms is by recognizing what can trigger those symptoms. While everyone’s triggers may vary, here are some common factors that can aggravate ADHD:
- Poor sleep. Your body, especially your brain, needs good sleep to function at its best. When you get poor sleep, your ability to focus takes a hit. This can be a big trigger for ADHD.
- Technology. Spending too much time in front of screens like televisions, cell phones, tablets, and computers can make it harder to concentrate. In turn, this can worsen ADHD symptoms.
- Food additives. Many studies have suggested that some artificial preservatives and additives in foods and drinks may trigger ADHD symptoms. Ultra-processed foods tend to be loaded with additives. So keep an eye on food labels when shopping.
- Overstimulation. Sensory overloads of brights lights, loud noises, and unsavory smells or tastes can make it difficult for the brain to process properly. This can trigger ADHD symptoms.
- Stress. While stressful life events can have a negative effect on anyone, they can especially trigger those with ADHD. Stress can also affect your quality of sleep (another ADHD trigger), so it may be a compound trigger.
How adult ADHD may be mistaken for dementia
Adult ADHD and dementia are distinct mental health conditions. Yet, it’s not uncommon for these conditions to be confused with one another. Many symptoms of adult ADHD—such as memory loss, misplacing items, forgetting names, difficulty learning new things, and trouble following conversations—match those of dementia.
As noted, it’s common for ADHD to go undiagnosed in childhood, especially if the symptoms were mild or overlooked. But sometimes ADHD symptoms present themselves differently as you get older. These may suddenly feel like new symptoms, causing you to become more aware of them. Some of these symptoms can resemble those of dementia, which can lead to confusion between the two conditions.
Keep in mind that an ADHD diagnosis as an adult doesn’t mean that dementia is not a possibility. While some studies suggest that adults with ADHD may have an increased risk of dementia, more research is needed before that connection can be fully made.
If you are concerned about the possibility of dementia, talk with your doctor. Like ADHD, diagnosing dementia (or other cognitive impairment) requires a thorough clinical evaluation. 
How adult ADHD and dementia are different
While adult ADHD and dementia share some common symptoms, the disorders are quite different. It’s important to know what sets the two apart:
- Initial onset and progression. ADHD begins in childhood, but it isn’t always diagnosed at that time. The symptoms of ADHD can continue into adulthood but typically do not worsen over time. However, it can become more noticeable in certain situations. For example, if you’ve just retired from work, losing that structure may trigger ADHD symptoms.
On the other hand, the onset of dementia typically happens later in life. Unlike ADHD, dementia symptoms gradually become worse over time. Further, dementia patients aren’t always fully aware that their memory is getting worse. It’s often spotted by family members or friends first. - Memory and attentiveness. Those with ADHD often have trouble focusing or they experience bouts of forgetfulness. However, these memory issues are often due to distraction. For instance, as you put your wallet or keys down, you may have been distracted and simply did not recall where you put them. Unlike dementia (which appears later in life), you may have experienced these sort of memory issues your entire life.
With dementia, memory loss is not due to distraction. Short-term memory loss in particular is common. Dementia patients often forget recent events or conversations. For instance, a person with dementia may forget how to get home even on a road they’ve traveled hundreds of times. - Cognitive impairment. With ADHD, cognitive struggles are often related to things like planning, organizing, and paying attention.
The cognitive decline associated with dementia affects a broader range of functions. Dementia can greatly affect memory, language, and reasoning.
Not a Silver&Fit® member? Learn more about everything the program has to offer, including more helpful healthy living tips like this, here on our website.
This information is not intended to take the place of regular medical care or advice. Please check with your doctor before using this information or beginning any self-care program. Images used for this article do not depict any members of the Silver&Fit program.
References
Arnold, L. E., Lofthouse, N., & Hurt, E. (2012). Artificial food colors and attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms: Conclusions to dye for. Neurotherapeutics, 9(3), 599–609. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-012-0133-x
Arnsten A. F. (2015). Stress weakens prefrontal networks: Molecular insults to higher cognition. Nature Neuroscience, 18(10), 1376–1385. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.4087
Beehuspoteea, N., & Badrakalimuthu, V.R. (2023). Exploring the relationship between ADHD and dementia. Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry. https://wchh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/pnp.784
Callahan, B. L., Bierstone, D., Stuss, D. T., & Black, S. E. (2017). Adult ADHD: Risk factor for dementia or phenotypic mimic?. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 9, 260. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00260
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). Diagnosing ADHD. https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/diagnosis/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/diagnosis.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). Treatment of ADHD. https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/treatment/index.html
Cleveland Clinic. (2022, October 20). 18 symptoms that could indicate adult ADHD. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/adhd-symptoms-in-adults
Collier, S. (2020, April 21). Struggling with attention and organization as you age? It could be ADHD, not dementia. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/struggling-with-attention-and-organization-as-you-age-it-could-be-adhd-not-dementia-2020042119514
Harvard Health Publishing. (2020, April 21). Struggling with attention and organization as you age? It could be ADHD, not dementia. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/struggling-with-attention-and-organization-as-you-age-it-could-be-adhd-not-dementia-2020042119514
Kessler, R. C., Adler, L. A., Barkley, R., Biederman, J., Conners, C. K., Faraone, S. V., Greenhill, L. L., Jaeger, S., Secnik, K., Spencer, T., Ustün, T. B., & Zaslavsky, A. M. (2005). Patterns and predictors of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder persistence into adulthood: Results from the national comorbidity survey replication. Biological Psychiatry, 57(11), 1442–1451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.04.001
Levine, S. Z., Rotstein, A., Kodesh, A., Sandin, S., Lee, B. K., Weinstein, G., Schnaider Beeri, M., & Reichenberg, A. (2023). Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and the risk of dementia. JAMA Network Open, 6(10), e2338088. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.38088
Livingston, G., Huntley, J., Sommerlad, A., Ames, D., Ballard, C., Banerjee, S., Brayne, C., Burns, A., Cohen-Mansfield, J., Cooper, C., Costafreda, S. G., Dias, A., Fox, N., Gitlin, L. N., Howard, R., Kales, H. C., Kivimäki, M., Larson, E. B., Ogunniyi, A., Orgeta, V., … Mukadam, N. (2020). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The Lancet, 396(10248), 413–446. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30367-6
Mayo Clinic. (2023, January 25). Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adult-adhd/symptoms-causes/syc-20350878
Mendonca, F., Sudo, F. K., Santiago-Bravo, G., Oliveira, N., Assuncao, N., Rodrigues, F., Soares, R., Calil, V., Bernardes, G., Erthal, P., Drummond, C., Tovar-Moll, F., & Mattos, P. (2021). Mild cognitive impairment or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in older adults? A cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 737357. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.737357
Mohamed, S. M. H., Butzbach, M., Fuermaier, A. B. M., Weisbrod, M., Aschenbrenner, S., Tucha, L., & Tucha, O. (2021). Basic and complex cognitive functions in Adult ADHD. PloS one, 16(9), e0256228. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256228
National Institutes of Health. (2024, April 2). ADHD across the lifespan: What it looks like in adults. https://magazine.medlineplus.gov/article/adhd-across-the-lifespan-what-it-looks-like-in-adults
National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: What you need to know. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/sites/default/files/documents/health/publications/adhd-in-adults.pdf
National Resource Center on ADHD. (2017). Diagnosis of ADHD in adults. https://chadd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Diagnosis.pdf
Torgersen, T., Gjervan, B., Lensing, M. B., & Rasmussen, K. (2016). Optimal management of ADHD in older adults. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 12, 79–87. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S59271
This article was written by Jason Nielsen, edited by Celina Johnson, and clinically reviewed by Elizabeth Thompson, MPH, RDN, on August 29, 2024.
