Are YOU an OAP with ADHD? As it's claimed thousands are going undiagnosed, Mail readers reveal their own struggles - and the key signs to look for By Meike Leonard Published: 02:05, 9 June 2024 | Updated: 02:06, 9 June 2024 e-mail View comments Older adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) are 'slipping through the cracks of the healthcare system' – leaving many isolated, depressed or even misdiagnosed with dementia, experts have warned. The condition, which causes problems with concentration, constant fidgeting and impulsive behaviour among many symptoms, is mainly associated with disruptive children. But in what's been described as 'a health emergency' by one specialist, doctors speaking to The Mail on Sunday say they fear that key signs of ADHD in older people are being missed.
There has been a surge in adults being diagnosed, with a 50-fold increase in men aged 18 to 29 being treated for ADHD. Celebrities, such as ITV presenters Ant McPartlin , 48, and Adrian Chiles , 57, comedian Sue Perkins , 54, and singer Lily Allen , 39, have also gone public with their struggles with the condition, raising awareness. Retired civil servant Nick Tooley, 66, said his ADHD diagnosis during the Covid-19 pandemic 'answered so many questions' Signs of the disorder in later life, such as constantly losing things, forgetting to pay bills on time or 'zoning out' during conversations, may be put down to 'old age'.
However, experts believe ADHD is a lifelong condition �.
