Adults diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are likely to have a milder form of the condition than children, according to a new study.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh analyzed data from over 13,500 adults who reported an ADHD diagnosis. Of these, 3,853 received their diagnosis in childhood, while 9,674 were diagnosed after the age of 18. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that individuals diagnosed later in life experienced less day-to-day impairment from ADHD and were less likely to suffer from linked mental and physical health problems, such as bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and digestive issues.
The findings suggest that adults diagnosed with ADHD may present a 'milder clinical profile' compared to those diagnosed in childhood. The adult diagnosis group also exhibited fewer genetic predispositions associated with the disorder, as measured by their ADHD polygenic risk score.
Education and income levels also differed between the groups. Approximately 28% of those diagnosed as adults held a university degree, compared to 14.2% of those diagnosed in childhood. Furthermore, about 15% of the adult diagnosis group reported annual household incomes between $100,000 and $150,000, versus 9.4% in the childhood diagnosis group. This income bracket is higher than the average for U.S. households, which typically falls between 12% to 13% earning in that range.
Despite these differences, the study noted that both groups with ADHD experienced more health problems than individuals without the condition.
This research emerges against a backdrop of rising ADHD diagnoses, particularly among adults. In England, for example, an estimated 2.5 million people are believed to have ADHD, a figure that represents a 20-fold increase over two decades, largely driven by adult diagnoses. The study's findings have also surfaced amidst ongoing discussions and some skepticism regarding the surge in ADHD diagnoses, particularly in the UK, where certain experts have questioned whether some behaviors are being over-medicalized.