"Late-onset" ADHD symptoms in young adulthood: Is this ADHD?. Issue 10 (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Riglin, Lucy; Wootton, Robyn E.; Livingston, Lucy A.; Agnew-Blais, Jessica; Arseneault, Louise; Blakey, Rachel; Agha, Sharifah Shameem; Langley, Kate; Collishaw, Stephan; O'Donovan, Michael C.; Davey Smith, George; Stergiakouli, Evie; Tilling, Kate; Thapar, Anita
• Is Part Of: Journal of attention disorders. Volume 26:Issue 10(2022)
• Page Start: 1271
• Page End: 1282
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: ALSPAC -- ADHD -- late-onset -- longitudinal -- genetic -- scaffolding -- compensation; Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder -- Periodicals; Attention -- Periodicals; 616.8589
• DOI: 10.1177/10870547211066486
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1087-0547

Abstract

Objective: We investigated whether "late-onset" ADHD that emerges in adolescence/adulthood is similar in risk factor profile to: (1) child-onset ADHD, but emerges later because of scaffolding/compensation from childhood resources; and (2) depression, because it typically onsets in adolescence/adulthood and shows symptom and genetic overlaps with ADHD.Methods: We examined associations between late-onset ADHD and ADHD risk factors, cognitive tasks, childhood resources and depression risk factors in a population-based cohort followed-up to age 25 years ( N =4224–9764).Results: Parent-rated late-onset ADHD was like child-onset persistent ADHD in associations with ADHD polygenic risk scores and cognitive task performance, although self-rated late-onset ADHD was not. Late-onset ADHD was associated with higher levels of childhood resources than child-onset ADHD and did not show strong evidence of association with depression risk factors.Conclusions: Late-onset ADHD shares characteristics with child-onset ADHD when parent-rated, but differences for self-reports require investigation. Childhood resources may delay the onset of ADHD.