The number of middle-aged women prescribed medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in England has risen by around 40% in the past year, as increasing numbers receive diagnoses later in life.
New NHS data shows that more than 427,000 people were prescribed ADHD medication in England during 2025, marking a 31% increase compared with the previous year.
The sharpest rise was recorded among adults. Around 267,000 people aged 18 and over received ADHD prescriptions last year, up from 190,000 in 2024 — an increase of approximately 40%.
Women in their 50s saw some of the fastest-growing prescription rates. Among those aged 55 to 59, 4,107 women were prescribed ADHD medication in 2025, roughly 40% more than the previous year. Similar increases were also recorded among women aged 50 to 54.
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Stefan Ivantu said the trend reflects growing awareness of how ADHD presents differently in women.
“The rise in middle-aged women seeking assessments reflects a long-overdue recognition of female ADHD presentation and a welcome reduction in stigma,” he said.
Despite the growth among adults, boys aged 10 to 14 remained the largest group receiving ADHD medication, with 59,111 prescriptions issued in 2025. However, prescriptions also increased significantly among girls and young women. The number of girls aged 15 to 19 receiving ADHD medication rose by more than 5,000 in a year, climbing from 18,912 in 2024.
The NHS estimates that around 2.5 million people in England have ADHD, although many remain undiagnosed. Experts say symptoms often differ between men and women, contributing to delayed diagnosis.
While boys are more likely to display hyperactive behaviour, women frequently experience inattentiveness, anxiety and organisational difficulties. Researchers believe these differences have led many women to go undiagnosed during childhood, only seeking assessment later in adulthood.
Dr Ivantu stressed that increasing diagnosis rates make accurate clinical assessment more important than ever.
“We must carefully rule out physical and metabolic factors, such as thyroid issues or perimenopause, which often mimic cognitive fatigue, while identifying co-existing conditions like burnout or anxiety,” he said.
He added that medication can be highly effective but should form part of a broader treatment plan that includes healthy routines, lifestyle changes and reducing digital distractions.
The rise in diagnoses comes as demand for ADHD services continues to outstrip capacity. NHS figures show that more than 800,000 people are currently waiting for an ADHD assessment.
Henry Shelford, chief executive of ADHD UK, said the increase reflects decades of missed diagnoses rather than a sudden rise in the condition itself.
“ADHD was only formally recognised by the NHS for children in 2000 and for adults in 2008,” he said. “Many middle-aged adults simply did not have the opportunity to be diagnosed when they were younger. As awareness grows, more people are recognising the symptoms in themselves and seeking support.”
Dr Elena Touroni, consultant psychologist and co-founder of the Chelsea Psychology Clinic, said many women first identify their own symptoms after their children receive an ADHD diagnosis.
“What we see at the clinic is a rising number of women in their forties and fifties arriving because something they have been struggling with for years finally has a name,” she said.
She explained that many women have spent decades “masking” their symptoms by consciously compensating for difficulties with organisation and attention, often at the cost of increased anxiety and emotional exhaustion.
An NHS spokesperson said the health service is working to improve ADHD care through a dedicated taskforce examining diagnosis, treatment and waiting times.
The spokesperson added that local services are being redesigned to expand support, improve access to care and reduce waiting lists.