A survey of 600 women found that menopause worsens ADHD symptoms for 97.5 percent of women with the condition, according to research cited in the Journal of Psychiatric Research. Women reported increased difficulty with attention, emotional regulation, and managing everyday demands.
The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), a standard tool for assessing ADHD symptoms, may not capture how much menopause interferes with daily life. The scale was not designed to measure changes in ADHD during hormonal transitions. Nearly all 600 women in the survey reported worsening ADHD symptoms during menopause, yet their ASRS scores remained similar across different hormonal life stages.
This gap means a woman can experience major changes in mental clarity, working memory, motivation, emotional regulation, and day-to-day functioning without showing a large change on a standard ADHD symptom checklist.
Evidence specifically supporting combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and stimulant ADHD medication for women in perimenopause and menopause remains limited. Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D., founder and clinical director of the Institute for Lifespan ADHD Training, notes that well-designed studies are needed to determine which women might benefit from these treatments and how the medications may interact.
Researchers have an opportunity to investigate this issue more rigorously and translate findings into better care for women with ADHD in midlife.