Examining the Link Between ADHD Symptoms and Menopausal Experiences.
Lauren Chapman1, Kanak Gupta1, Myra S Hunter1
1King's College London, UK.
Journal of Attention Disorders
|July 30, 2025
Summary
Women with ADHD do not report more severe menopause symptoms than those without. However, ADHD symptoms correlate with menopause complaints, suggesting potential symptom overlap and attribution differences in women with ADHD.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Women's health
- Reproductive endocrinology
Background:
- Growing interest in female hormones and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
- Increasing diagnosis of ADHD in women later in life necessitates understanding hormonal changes across lifespan.
- Exploration of ADHD status, medication use, and menopausal stage impacts on symptom experience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between ADHD diagnosis and medication use with menopause stage and symptoms.
- To investigate symptom overlap and attribution in women experiencing menopause and ADHD.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 656 women aged 45-60 years.
- 245 women had a diagnosed ADHD.
- Utilized validated questionnaires for ADHD and menopause symptom assessment.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in menopausal complaints between women with and without ADHD across stages.
- No significant interaction effects between ADHD diagnosis and menopause stage.
- ADHD symptoms correlated with menopausal complaints, but less prominently in the ADHD group.
Conclusions:
- Women with ADHD do not experience greater menopausal complaints than neurotypical women.
- Potential differences in symptom attribution exist in women with ADHD experiencing menopause.
- Further longitudinal and qualitative research is recommended to explore symptom overlap and attribution.
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