Do You Have ADHD?


Many seniors don’t know they have it because their symptoms are blamed on personality problems. ::


BY CHRIS ILIADES, M.D. O


lder drivers — ages 65 to 79 — with attention- deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are twice


as likely to receive a traffic ticket and 74% more likely to get into a crash, according to Columbia University School of Public Health. A study published last fall in the American Medical Association’s journal JAMA Network Open surveyed nearly 3,000 active drivers for more than three years. Researchers concluded that better


diagnosis and treatment of people with adult ADHD are needed for healthy aging.


SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSIS Symptoms of adult ADHD include hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention, not a good combination for an older driver — or for health in general. Although most people think of


ADHD as a children’s disorder, about 30% of children with ADHD grow up to be adults with ADHD, and many older adults may not know they have the condition. An adult ADHD diagnosis


requires that symptoms start before age 12. ADHD does not start in adults,


but the diagnosis may be missed in childhood. This is especially true for older adults, because the American Psychiatric Association did not formally recognize ADHD as a mental disorder of childhood until the 1960s. For many seniors with


ADHD, their symptoms may have been blamed on behavior or personality problems for years.


“About 4% to 5% of adults in the


United States have been diagnosed with ADHD. Updated criteria for ADHD in adults have led to a 27% increase in ADHD diagnoses,” says Stephen Salzbrenner, M.D., a psychiatrist and assistant professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Although there is no cure for


ADHD, many children outgrow the symptoms. When ADHD persists into adult years, the symptoms may be different, making the diagnosis easier to miss. According to the Attention Deficit


Disorder Association (ADDA), the most common signs of ADHD in adults include: Difficulty staying focused, listening, or paying attention to details


Frequently misplacing or losing


things Running late or missing


appointments Risky behaviors, like careless driving


or speeding, or substance abuse Inability to be patient, interrupting,


talking too much, or inability to wait in line Being easily angered, frustrated,


or irritated Avoiding tasks that require mental


attention for any length of time “Symptoms of adult ADHD


must show a persistent pattern of inattention, along with hyperactivity or impulsivity. There should also be clear evidence that the symptoms interfere with or reduce the quality of functioning socially, or at school or work,” Salzbrenner explains. If those symptoms could be you


or a loved one, ask your primary care provider about seeing a mental health specialist for an adult ADHD evaluation. If in doubt, it might help to


take the ADDA’s Adult ADHD Questionnaire, found at ADD.org/ adhd-questionnaire.


TREATMENT Adult ADHD treatment is effective


and can be life-changing. “Treatment of ADHD is


associated with better long- term self-esteem and social functioning,” says Salzbrenner. Experts typically recommend


education, psychotherapy, counseling, and other supports first, stimulant medications


second, and then other medication


About 4% to 5% of adults in the


if needed, including non- stimulant medications or antidepressants, advises Salzbrenner. According to the


United States have been diagnosed with ADHD.” — Stephen Salzbrenner, M.D.


ADDA, it is never too late to get diagnosed and treated for adult ADHD. It could change or save your life.


MARCH 2025 | NEWSMAX MAXLIFE 89


KHOSRORK©ISTOCK / AUTUMNN/SHUTTERSTOCK


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100