ADHD and menopause can affect each other in two ways. For some women, existing ADHD traits feel harder to manage around perimenopause and menopause. And menopause symptoms such as brain fog, poor concentration and low mood can look a lot like ADHD (NHS). Research on the link is still early, and the results so far are mixed.
Key takeaways
- Menopause usually affects women between 45 and 55, though it can happen earlier (NHS). Its symptoms include problems with memory or concentration, brain fog and mood swings (NHS).
- An Icelandic study of 5,392 women found severe perimenopausal symptoms in 54.2% of those with ADHD, compared with 30.1% without (Smári et al., 2025).
- A King's College London study of 656 women found an ADHD diagnosis wasn't linked to greater menopausal complaints, but stronger ADHD traits were (Chapman et al., 2025).
- The key clue is timing. ADHD traits go back to childhood; menopause symptoms arrive in midlife, often alongside changes to periods (NICE NG87; NHS).
Does menopause make ADHD worse?
It may for some women, but the evidence isn't settled. Two 2025 studies are worth reading together.
The first followed 5,392 Icelandic women aged 35 to 55, of whom 535 had ADHD. Women with ADHD reported more severe perimenopausal symptoms overall: 54.2% had severe symptoms, compared with 30.1% of women without ADHD. The difference showed up across psychological, physical and urogenital symptoms. Symptoms also peaked earlier, at 35 to 39 rather than 45 to 49 (Smári et al., 2025).
The second, from King's College London, surveyed 656 women aged 45 to 60, including 245 with an ADHD diagnosis. Women with ADHD did not report greater menopausal complaints at any menopausal stage. But across the whole group, the stronger someone's ADHD traits, the more menopausal difficulties they tended to report (Chapman et al., 2025; King's College London).
The honest summary: many women with ADHD describe a harder time in midlife, and there are signs of a real link. But researchers still need longer-term studies to understand it.
ADHD or menopause? How the symptoms overlap
Several symptoms appear on both lists. This table compares what the NHS describes for each (NHS: menopause; NHS: ADHD in adults).
| Symptom | Menopause and perimenopause | ADHD in adults |
|---|---|---|
| Poor concentration, brain fog | ✓ problems with memory or concentration, brain fog | ✓ easily distracted |
| Forgetfulness | ✓ | ✓ forgetful, losing things often |
| Mood changes | ✓ mood swings, low mood | Often alongside, as anxiety or depression can coexist |
| Sleep problems | ✓ trouble getting to or staying asleep | Can contribute to tiredness and poor focus |
| Hot flushes, night sweats, period changes | ✓ | ✗ not an ADHD symptom |
| Present since childhood, in 2+ settings | ✗ | ✓ needed for a diagnosis (NICE NG87) |
The bottom two rows are the most useful. Changes to periods, hot flushes and night sweats point towards the menopause transition. A pattern stretching back to school days, showing up at home and at work, points towards ADHD. Both can be true at once. Our guide to perimenopause symptoms covers the full list of menopause signs.
Related: Menopause and anxiety: why it happens and what can help
Can you be diagnosed with ADHD during menopause?
Yes. Many women are diagnosed with ADHD for the first time in midlife. The NHS notes that ADHD is recognised less often in women, possibly because women more commonly have inattentive symptoms that are harder to spot (NHS). Our guide to ADHD in women explains why it's so often missed.
For a diagnosis, symptoms need to have started in childhood and still cause at least moderate problems in more than one setting (NICE NG87). So if focus and memory problems are completely new in your 40s or 50s, a clinician will look carefully at menopause and other causes first. If you've struggled for as long as you can remember, and menopause has tipped things over the edge, an ADHD assessment may be worth discussing.
Getting the right help
Keeping notes makes appointments more useful. Try tracking your symptoms alongside your periods for a few months with our perimenopause checklist. If you think ADHD may be part of the picture, our ADHD self-screener can help you organise your thoughts. Neither tool can diagnose anything.
Support for both conditions can include lifestyle changes, practical strategies and talking therapies (NHS). Treatment options, including medicines, are discussed with your clinician, with their benefits, risks and alternatives.
Renvo can help. We offer both an ADHD service and a menopause service, so your clinician can look at the whole picture. Both start with a free initial consultation, which is not itself an assessment or diagnosis. adult ADHD assessment · online menopause clinic
When to see a GP
See a GP if you think you have symptoms of menopause or perimenopause and want to know your options. The NHS says early advice can reduce the effect on your health, relationships and work (NHS). It's also worth speaking to a GP if attention or memory problems are affecting your work or daily life.
Low mood can be part of both ADHD and menopause. If you ever feel unable to keep yourself safe (NHS):
- call 999 or go to A&E if someone's life is at risk
- call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option (option 2 in England)
- call Samaritans free, any time, on 116 123
Honest FAQs
Does menopause make ADHD worse?
It may for some women. One large 2025 study found women with ADHD had more severe perimenopausal symptoms, while another found no greater menopausal complaints, so the evidence isn't settled (Smári et al., 2025; Chapman et al., 2025).
Is it ADHD or menopause brain fog?
It can be either, or both. ADHD traits go back to childhood and appear in more than one setting, while menopause symptoms start in midlife and often come with period changes, hot flushes or night sweats (NICE NG87; NHS).
Can you get diagnosed with ADHD in your 40s or 50s?
Yes. NICE says adults should be referred for assessment when typical ADHD symptoms began in childhood and have persisted (NICE NG87).
At what age does menopause start?
Menopause usually affects women between 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier (NHS).
This article is general information, not medical advice. Always speak to a qualified clinician about your own symptoms.
