ADHD diagnosis late in life?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have experience with a late in life ADHD diagnosis? If so how was it treated? What were the symptoms going into the diagnosis? And if prescribed medication did it help? I am trying to get to the root of my mother’s extreme anxiety and her psychiatrist mentioned he has recently been diagnosing more ADHD in his older patients. Would love to hear others’ experiences.

[Anonymous]

How old is your Mom? Extreme anxiety is not a symptom of ADHD. You can have co-morbidities, of ADHD and General Anxiety. But often ADHD medication can make Anxiety worse.

If she is having executive function issues (the hallmark of ADHD) and also having anxiety, she could have fronto-temporal dementia. It tends to have psychiatric symptoms prior to major memory issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old is your Mom? Extreme anxiety is not a symptom of ADHD. You can have co-morbidities, of ADHD and General Anxiety. But often ADHD medication can make Anxiety worse.

If she is having executive function issues (the hallmark of ADHD) and also having anxiety, she could have fronto-temporal dementia. It tends to have psychiatric symptoms prior to major memory issues.

Thank you, she is 80. Recently passed a dementia test but I hear what you are saying. Yes, concerned ADHD meds would exacerbate anxiety but her executive functioning is extremely poor and so far anti depressants are not helping so wondering what other medications might complement.

[Anonymous]

My MIL was diagnosed with ADHD around age 80, as part of a workup for dementia (which she also has). I think her dementia was more advanced, looking back, than the workup suggested, so the ADHD was kind of a camouflage that might have disguised the severity of the dementia. It was a really pointless diagnosis, IMO, which only confused her and made her upset. There was no treatment offered.

She has had a lot of ADHD-related issues as her dementia has progressed involving disinhibition and impulsivity. It is causing a lot of problems in getting her appropriate eldercare.

[Anonymous]

Was in my mid-50s when a psychiatrist finally “saw” me. I’m a therapist and work w women in their 70s who clearly have undiagnosed ADHD. They don’t seem to want to pursue a diagnoses though. Women and females are so often misdiagnosed. Seek dx regardless of age. Have a neuropsych evaluation if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old is your Mom? Extreme anxiety is not a symptom of ADHD. You can have co-morbidities, of ADHD and General Anxiety. But often ADHD medication can make Anxiety worse.

If she is having executive function issues (the hallmark of ADHD) and also having anxiety, she could have fronto-temporal dementia. It tends to have psychiatric symptoms prior to major memory issues.

Thank you, she is 80. Recently passed a dementia test but I hear what you are saying. Yes, concerned ADHD meds would exacerbate anxiety but her executive functioning is extremely poor and so far anti depressants are not helping so wondering what other medications might complement.

An 80 year old would not be dx w FTD.

[Anonymous]

With both my parents- anxious to begin with- we saw extreme anxiety the years leading up to dementia/Alz dx even when passing screeners. Both were put on adderall at one point to help with alertness and concentration and both became agitated and even more explosive on it eventually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old is your Mom? Extreme anxiety is not a symptom of ADHD. You can have co-morbidities, of ADHD and General Anxiety. But often ADHD medication can make Anxiety worse.

If she is having executive function issues (the hallmark of ADHD) and also having anxiety, she could have fronto-temporal dementia. It tends to have psychiatric symptoms prior to major memory issues.

Thank you, she is 80. Recently passed a dementia test but I hear what you are saying. Yes, concerned ADHD meds would exacerbate anxiety but her executive functioning is extremely poor and so far anti depressants are not helping so wondering what other medications might complement.

An 80 year old would not be dx w FTD.

My Mom was diagnosed with FTD at 80

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was in my mid-50s when a psychiatrist finally “saw” me. I’m a therapist and work w women in their 70s who clearly have undiagnosed ADHD. They don’t seem to want to pursue a diagnoses though. Women and females are so often misdiagnosed. Seek dx regardless of age. Have a neuropsych evaluation if needed.

Thank you, would you mind explaining your symptoms prior to diagnosis? Has medication helped you without exacerbating any anxiety?