Post by UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences

❗️New research suggests that ADHD may be underdiagnosed in adults across England. The study, led by researchers at UCL, University of Liverpool & King's College London, found that while 1.19% of people in England had an ADHD diagnosis in their primary care record, recorded diagnosis rates were notably lower across all age groups compared with the international estimates of actual ADHD prevalence, which typically range between 3% and 5%. This gap was especially large in older adults, with just 0.05% of men and women over the age of 65 diagnosed with ADHD. 🗣️ Lead author, Dr Amber John: “The low rates observed in older adults don’t necessarily mean that ADHD is uncommon in older age. Instead, they may reflect historical differences in recognition and access to diagnosis, particularly among generations who grew up before ADHD was widely recognised.” 🗣️ Senior author Josh Stott "When it comes to mid-life and late-life health outcomes in people with high ADHD traits, they tend to have increased rates of physical and mental health difficulties. Consequently, it is useful for services and clinicians to be aware that while many in this group probably don’t have diagnoses, they may well have extra needs." Read more about the study: https://lnkd.in/eRdg9xnB The authors of the study were funded by the Medical Research Foundation and The British Academy. #ADHD | Dr Georgia Pavlopoulou | UCL PALS