ADHD in older adults: prevalence, causes and consequences

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, estimated to affect about 5% of children and about 2.5% of adults. It is characterized by age-inappropriate and impairing levels of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. Although ADHD was once thought to be a condition limited to childhood, it has recently been suggested that a substantial number of older adults still experience elevated levels of ADHD symptoms accompanied by functional impairment and health issues, without being recognized by clinicians and without receiving adequate healthcare. However, most studies on ADHD have been conducted in children and young adults, while older adults have been typically excluded from research.

This project therefore aims to address these limitations using a comprehensive and detailed record linkage of several Swedish national registers with very large numbers of older adults with a diagnosis of ADHD (i: In total 275 549 individuals with ADHD, ii: 26 374 where at least 50 years old at end of follow up, iii: 3 500 where at least 65 years old at end of follow up) combined with data from the Individual Development and Adaptation (IDA) study; a community-based study with longitudinal data from childhood to older adulthood. The overall objective for this project is to advance the understanding of the prevalence, causes and consequences of ADHD in older adults.