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Ask the Adult ADD Expert:
Sandy Maynard
Does ADD Get Worse With Age?
Q:
"I'm 53 and was just diagnosed with ADD. The last couple of years have been more 'hazy' or confusing than before. Do the symptoms get worse with middle age when the memory starts to go anyway?"
A:
There has been a study that found hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms decline at a higher rate than inattention symptoms, but adults still struggle with many ADHD related challenges.
Many women in menopause (with or without ADHD) relate that their memory just doesn't seem to be as sharp as it used to be. I think this is common for most of us as we age, but I do not think it is necessarily a result of aging, but may in some cases be a result of not utilizing our mental powers as rigorously as we have in the past.
Our ability to concentrate, to reason, to visualize, to imagine, to make decisions, to solve problems and to think clearly and creatively depends a great deal on how well and how often we exercise our mind. Getting a book of mental games and exercises to sharpen your brain power could prove to be fun as well as beneficial.
A pioneer in the field of coaching people with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Ms. Maynard was instrumental in the development of The National Attention Deficit Disorder Association's Coaching Guidelines and a founding board member for the Institute for the Advancement of AD/HD Coaching (IAAC). She is a certified Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and utilizes a holistic health and wellness approach with her clients. Ms. Maynard lives in Washington, DC where she operates Catalytic Coaching. Sandy lectures internationally and is a regular contributor to ADDitude magazine.
 9 Comments:
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Posted by
terranova
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Sep 23 2008 @ 5:55 PM
ADD and aging
I am lucky to have near me a psychologist who has specialised in ADHD and mature women. However as I am now 56 and know that I am aging, I am wondering if anyone has completed or is currently undertaking research into ADHD And old age.
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Posted by
brainhijack
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Jul 8 2008 @ 7:35 PM
Menopause and ADHD
My two cents: (1)The MUSIC you listen to matters alot. I'm not a Mozart fan but I do my best when listening to it versus nothing at all. Certain types of music have been shown to improve mood control & focus, reduce irritablilty & confusion, lower blood pressure.(2) If you don't already have these 2 BOOKS,logout NOW & go buy them tonight:"Healing ADD" & "Making a Good Brain Great"both by Dr. Daniel Amen. Got them for Christmas. It's absolutely changed my life. I'm now able to make so much more sense of things: my behavior & challenges my entire life, even why some meds stop working or make things worse or don't work at all. Now I more effectively manage my doctors & treatment. See specific Mozart albums & other effective music suggestions on Pages 165-166 of"Good Brain" plus a list of what to look for online @ www.soundings.com.(3)See your OBGYN & have your FSH levels tested. If out of normal range, your brain, she, won't work so well. Estrogen is not your only choice to address FSH levels. Your OBGYN can explain the other options. My mood, brain fog, cognitive & memory issues improved quickly.(4) See an ENDOCINOLOGIST to rule out your thyroid as a possible culprit. A short trial of synthrex dramatically cleared my sister's brain fog & stablized her mood. I wasn't a candidate.
At 50 an emergency surgery slammed me into menopause sending my ADD symptoms into orbit. My ADD became scary-like disabling & finding an effective remedy got serious very fast. My doctor put it like this: "You've been hit by a MAC truck & then your brain got hijacked",not literally but the shoe fit. Menopause is not even remotely funny to me yet. So far it's been devastating & very real. My Neuropsychological(IQ)test scores were quite lower than usual in certain areas of memory & logic proving that it wasn't just a feeling. It's treatable. I hope you find these tips as helpful as I have.
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Posted by
brainhijack
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Jul 8 2008 @ 7:34 PM
Menopause and ADHD
My two cents: (1)The MUSIC you listen to matters alot. I'm not a Mozart fan but I do my best when listening to it versus nothing at all. Certain types of music have been shown to improve mood control & focus, reduce irritablilty & confusion, lower blood pressure.(2) If you don't already have these 2 BOOKS,logout NOW & go buy them tonight:"Healing ADD" & "Making a Good Brain Great"both by Dr. Daniel Amen. Got them for Christmas. It's absolutely changed my life. I'm now able to make so much more sense of things: my behavior & challenges my entire life, even why some meds stop working or make things worse or don't work at all. Now I more effectively manage my doctors & treatment. See specific Mozart albums & other effective music suggestions on Pages 165-166 of"Good Brain" plus a list of what to look for online @ www.soundings.com.(3)See your OBGYN & have your FSH levels tested. If out of normal range, your brain, she, won't work so well. Estrogen is not your only choice to address FSH levels. Your OBGYN can explain the other options. My mood, brain fog, cognitive & memory issues improved quickly.(4) See an ENDOCINOLOGIST to rule out your thyroid as a possible culprit. A short trial of synthrex dramatically cleared my sister's brain fog & stablized her mood. I wasn't a candidate.
At 50 an emergency surgery slammed me into menopause sending my ADD symptoms into orbit. My ADD became scary-like disabling & finding an effective remedy got serious very fast. My doctor put it like this: "You've been hit by a MAC truck & then your brain got hijacked",not literally but the shoe fit. Menopause is not even remotely funny to me yet. So far it's been devastating & very real. My Neuropsychological(IQ)test scores were quite lower than usual in certain areas of memory & logic proving that it wasn't just a feeling. It's treatable. I hope you find these tips as helpful as I have.
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Posted by
Elaine20
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Jul 4 2008 @ 5:37 PM
Menopause and ADHD
Studies have shown that declining levels of estrogen can have an adverse impact on ADHD symptoms. Three authors in particular, Sari Solden, Patricia Quinn and Kathleen Nadeau, have books about Women and ADD and talk about this. It may also occur with some individuals during PMS. In some cases a somewhat higher dose of the individual's ADD medication taken during that time, may help. Check out some books by those authors for more information.
Elaine
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Posted by
NANCY DAHOOD
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Feb 13 2008 @ 10:27 PM
Menopause and ADHD
I am almost 52 and started menopause very early at 43. I also had gastric bypass surgery at 48. It was around that time that all of my ADHD meds (yes I take several) just stopped working. My memory has declined so much that I continue to embarrass myself at work. Estrogen is stored in your fat cells and heavy women have more estrogen. That was probably the only benefit of being heavy. Now I'm thin and a frazzled fruitcake. I cannot take stress at all. If someone puts the television too loud I am ready to freak and run out of the room because I can't stand the vibration and loud noise. My PCP will not prescribe estrogen either. Is there a plant estrogen available that is as effective as HRT?
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Posted by
Peggy
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Nov 12 2007 @ 1:08 PM
menopause and ADHD
I am 57 and I earned my B.A degree 5 years ago. I am in the throes of menopause, bothersome? Yes, it bothers me that in the middle of a discussion I forget what I'm talking about. But, what I do is laugh. What else can I do? I am what I am. I thank God for my ADHD it has offered me many gifts that otherwise not be noticed. As long as I can walk and talk and feel the hot flashes too, I can survive.
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Posted by
Barbara Cain
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Oct 20 2007 @ 8:50 PM
Menopause and ADD
"The deficits of ADD coupled with menopause are horrendous and shameful."
I couldn't agree more with that statement, Sandra! I don't think anyone can understand the internal nighmare that we go through, unless you have ADD and are also menopausal. I have never felt as lonely and hopeless as I do at this time in my life. Between the memory problems, the depression and just general feelings of lifelessness, I am barely functional! Where do you find the care from the medical community that truly understand?
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Posted by
sandra kozan
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Oct 8 2007 @ 10:04 PM
memory problems for women
If I could find a Dr that would perscribe HRT to help the memory loss associated with Menopause, I would take triple the recommended dose. The deficits of ADD coupled with menopause are horrendous and shameful.
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Posted by
Jan Edelen
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May 24 2007 @ 5:48 PM
Menopause
I have been reading some articles that really seem to say that estrogen loss for women with ADHD does cause problems with memory, mood,etc. I wonder what we can do to counteract that problem if we are unwilling to take HRT.
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