ADHD does not end at 50. But what do we know about the ageing brain?
A new JAMA Psychiatry study examines the relationship between ADHD and cognitive impairment in later life. What can it tell us about ageing with ADHD, and why does association not necessarily mean causation?
ADHD, emotional regulation and sleep.
Sleep problems in adults with ADHD are not always explained by circadian rhythms, medication or difficulty switching off at night. Emerging research also points to a relationship between emotional regulation difficulties and insomnia symptoms.
This article examines findings from a study involving more than 1,400 adults with ADHD, considers the limitations of the evidence and explores why emotional experiences during the day may matter for sleep at night.
ADHD vs intelligence: why smart people still struggle.
High intelligence and academic achievement do not necessarily protect a person from ADHD-related executive functioning difficulties. Some highly capable children and adults struggle with task initiation, organisation, emotional regulation and everyday responsibilities despite their intellectual strengths.
This article explores the distinction between intelligence and executive functioning, the challenges of recognising ADHD in gifted individuals, and why visible success may conceal considerable cognitive effort.
Fatherhood can expose executive functioning struggles
Becoming a father can introduce new demands on attention, working memory, emotional regulation and everyday organisation. For men with ADHD, the combination of sleep deprivation, constant interruptions and family responsibilities may expose difficulties that previously remained manageable or largely invisible.
This article explores how fatherhood can change the experience of executive functioning, why these challenges should not be confused with a lack of commitment, and how practical support can make parenting more sustainable.
Late ADHD diagnosis: relief, grief and everything in between
Receiving an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood can bring relief and understanding, but it can also lead people to reconsider years of misunderstood difficulties, self-criticism and compensation.
This article explores the complex emotional experience of late diagnosis, including grief for missed opportunities, changing perceptions of the past and the possibility of developing greater self-compassion.
ADHD, depression and the space between neurodivergence and mental health.
ADHD and depression are distinct conditions, but research suggests that the pathways connecting them may vary across different stages of development.
Drawing on longitudinal research, this article explores how anxiety, irritability, negative thinking patterns and accumulated experiences of difficulty may contribute to depression risk from childhood through adulthood, and why mental health support should remain sensitive to individual developmental experiences.
When ADHD feels worse in midlife, it may not be your imagination.
Why do some women with ADHD find that familiar strategies become less effective during midlife? Emerging research suggests that hormonal transitions, particularly perimenopause and menopause, may interact with attention, emotional regulation, sleep and executive functioning.
This article examines the research and explores why changes in everyday functioning should be understood in the context of biology, life circumstances and cognitive demands.
Paediatric versus adult ADHD.
ADHD is often associated with childhood, but its presentation can change substantially throughout life. Hyperactivity may become less visible, while difficulties with attention, organisation and goal-directed behaviour continue into adulthood.
This article examines how ADHD develops across the lifespan, why adult diagnosis can be complex, and what research suggests about persistence, symptom changes and prevalence.
ADHD and the criminal justice system: a small observation while reading.
Research suggests that ADHD is substantially more common among people involved with the criminal justice system than in the general population. However, these findings do not establish that ADHD causes criminal behaviour.
Drawing on Australian criminology reports and international research, this article examines the evidence, considers the limitations of existing data and asks whether neurodevelopmental conditions receive sufficient attention in justice-related research.
What if some children are not ‘not paying attention’, but their visual system is working too hard?
Attention and learning depend on more than motivation or classroom behaviour. For some children with ADHD or dyslexia, visual processing difficulties may add to the cognitive demands of reading and schoolwork.
This article explores emerging research into virtual reality-based approaches to visual functioning, why sensory factors deserve attention, and why promising findings should not be confused with established ADHD treatments.
ADHD does not disappear at 18. It changes shape.
ADHD is often associated with childhood, but its everyday consequences can become more complex in adulthood. As external support decreases and responsibilities increase, previously manageable executive functioning difficulties may become harder to compensate for.
This article explores how ADHD symptoms change their outward expression, why adult ADHD can remain invisible, and how the transition from school to independent life may expose longstanding challenges.
Smart people freeze.
Why can capable professionals struggle to make decisions and move from thinking to action? A coaching perspective on option overload, executive functioning and creating a clearer structure for decisions.
The words we use become the stories people carry.
How do descriptions such as “lazy”, “difficult” or “unmotivated” shape the way people are understood? A reflection on language, ADHD and the consequences of interpreting everyday difficulties as character flaws.
