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Project Title: A life course approach to understanding ADHD among women: The effect of menopause amongst woman with ADHD.
Summary: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder, characterised by impulsivity, inattentiveness and hyperactivity. Previously considered a childhood disorder, predominantly affecting boys, it is now recognised that ADHD can occur/persist into adulthood increasing the risk of adverse outcomes including unemployment and substance abuse. The gender ratio largely equalises by adulthood, suggesting that women are diagnosed significantly later. While ADHD typically presents differently in girls, causing missed diagnoses, hormonal changes during puberty may also explain late-identified ADHD. Nonetheless, research has neglected ADHD among girls and more severely adult women.
Despite a growing focus on girls’ hormonal fluctuations and ADHD, later hormonal changes, such as perimenopause and menopause (a critical research area due to gaps in data/knowledge) remain unstudied. Between 2020-2022, ADHD diagnoses among women aged 30-49 doubled, alongside a surge in prescription medication. While no research investigates the relationship between ADHD and menopause, it’s biologically plausible that menopause could exacerbate ADHD symptoms, as large drops in oestrogen during menopause are related to decreased dopamine, a key neurotransmitter associated with ADHD.
This study aims to assess the effect of menopause on women with ADHD. Firstly, using a qualitative approach, we will investigate the experience of women with ADHD during perimenopause/menopause. Next, we will analyse existing data from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation, to determine if higher ADHD genetic risk correlates with poorer cognitive functioning and mental health during menopause. Finally, we will collect new quantitative data via a survey of the quality of life and functioning related to menopause in women with and without ADHD.
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