Quality of life in older adults with ADHD: links to ADHD symptom levels and executive functioning deficits
Open accessAbstract
Purpose and aim: The overall aim of the present study was to examine quality of life in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients age ≥60 years. First, we compared older adults with ADHD to both healthy controls of the same age and younger adults with ADHD. Second, we examined executive functioning as a possible underlying factor for quality of life among older adults with ADHD. Methods: The study included 158 participants in three groups: (1) older adults (60-75 years of age) with ADHD ( n = 42), (2) healthy controls of the same age ( n = 58), and (3) younger adults (age 18-45 years of age) with ADHD ( n = 56). The patients with ADHD were clinically-referred. Quality of life was examined through self-ratings and executive functioning was examined using both self-ratings and tests. Results: Older adults with ADHD differed significantly from controls the same age on all aspects of quality of life, with large effect sizes. However, they showed similar levels of quality of life compared to younger adults with ADHD. The exception was psychological health, for which older adults displayed better quality of life compared to younger adults with ADHD. Executive deficits measured through self-ratings, especially working memory, were related to quality of life, sometimes also beyond the influence of ADHD symptom levels. Conclusions: Older adults with ADHD show serious impairments in quality of life, that are comparable to the levels found for younger adults. Impairments…
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In comparison to participants without ADHD, the psychosocial functioning of older adults with ADHD is reduced, but the impairments are comparable to those found in younger adults with ADHD.
“In comparison to participants without ADHD, the psychosocial functioning of older adults with ADHD is reduced as well, but the impairments are comparable to those found in younger adults with ADHD (Philipp-Wiegmann et al. 2016; Thorell et al. 2019).”
From ADHD and associated psychopathology in older adults in a German community sample (2023) · cites this paper as Thorell et al. 2019
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ADHD and associated psychopathology in older adults in a German community sample
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- Authors
- Thorell, L. B., Holst, Y., & Sjöwall, D.
- Affiliations
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Region Stockholm (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Thorell, Lisa B.
- Venue
- Nordic Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2019-08-05
- Volume
- 73
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 409-416
- ISSN
- 0029-1455 (ISSN-L)
- 0803-9488
- 1502-4725
- OpenAlex
- W2965266196
- Cited by
- 58
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 4.57
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Nordic Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
- Keywords
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, older adults, quality of life, executive function, working memory, age differences, mental health, aging
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Quality of Life, Young Adult, Executive Function, Self Report
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