Doctors need more guidance on helping people who are over 50 and have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as most of the attention is on young adults and children, according to a new report. The report was published Tuesday in Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics.

“Our analysis concludes that better approaches are urgently required to screen and diagnose people aged from around age 50 to 55,” said lead author Maja Dobrosavljevic, a researcher from the University of Orebro in Sweden. “As we gain deeper insights into the challenges faced by older adults living with ADHD, a comprehensive and tailored approach is crucial for their well-being.”

The authors looked at nearly 100 existing studies on the topic. Then they reviewed diagnostic criteria. About 2.5% of adults have the neurodevelopmental disorder ADHD, the report estimated. Symptoms of ADHD include being impulsive, hyper, and not being organized. Some people with it have poor attention skills. The disorder can last throughout life and negatively impact education, job prospects and social interactions.

“Our results show no studies have observed people over a long time period into older age. Research has instead focused on retrospective assessment of childhood symptoms, and this can be unreliable because of age-related memory issues,” said Henrik Larsson, a professor of psychiatric epidemiology at Orebro University.

The authors say there is no specific consideration of how ADHD presents in older adults. Screening tools may not pick it up in people over 50.

In older adults, doctors must distinguish ADHD from age-related mild cognitive impairment (MCI). People with ADHD typically report childhood symptoms whereas MCI has a more abrupt onset, the authors said. 

“Essentially, this means that more trials are needed into the safety and efficacy of current ADHD medication, including the maximum recommended doses, used to treat this age group — who are at increased risk of other health conditions such as heart problems,” Larsson added.

“We therefore urge the medical community, researchers, and policymakers to collaborate in refining diagnostic criteria, treatment guidelines, and research initiatives that are inclusive of all age groups affected by ADHD,” Dobrosavljevic said.