Menopause & ADHD: Impact on Women’s Health

Menopause and ADHD: A Troubling Connection

A recent survey conducted by ADDitude magazine revealed a startling correlation between menopause and the exacerbation of ADHD symptoms in women. Over 1,500 women with diagnosed and undiagnosed ADHD participated in the survey, with a staggering 94 percent reporting that their ADHD symptoms worsened during perimenopause and menopause.

For many women, the impact of ADHD during their 40s and 50s was so severe that they described this period as the time when ADHD had the greatest overall impact on their lives. Symptoms such as brain fog, memory issues, overwhelm, time-management difficulties, procrastination, and emotional dysregulation were cited as the most debilitating during menopause.

One survey respondent shared, “Perimenopause and the pandemic were an awful combination. Everything fell apart. I couldn’t cope, sought diagnosis, and realize now I struggled all along, but particularly when estrogen was surging and declining.”

The survey also highlighted the challenges faced by women in receiving a timely ADHD diagnosis, with many reporting being diagnosed later in life, around the age of 43 on average. Comorbidities such as anxiety and depression were common among those with ADHD, further complicating their health and well-being.

Diagnosis was found to be a crucial factor in managing ADHD symptoms during menopause, with stimulant medication being deemed effective by 40 percent of respondents. Other strategies such as exercise, nutrition, mindfulness, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were also found to be helpful in alleviating symptoms.

Overall, the survey shed light on the complex interplay between menopause and ADHD in women, emphasizing the need for increased awareness, timely diagnosis, and effective treatment options to support women during this challenging life transition.