Can attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder continue into adulthood?

Yes, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can continue into adulthood, and adults can be diagnosed with the disorder.1

While ADHD is most commonly associated with children and adolescents, the condition involves persistent traits—such as distractibility, restlessness, and difficulty sustaining attention—that can cause impairment in settings like work or home. Research into the neurobiology of ADHD suggests that the disorder may be linked to a delay in the growth and development of the brain's inhibitory circuits, specifically the cortical-striatal-thalamic-cortical circuit.23

In some individuals, these circuits may not fully mature until the third decade of life, and in others, they may never reach typical levels of impulse inhibition. This developmental lag helps explain why symptoms may subside with age for some, while others continue to experience the effects of the syndrome into adulthood. Studies have even identified functional differences in the brains of adults with ADHD, such as decreased blood flow in the caudate nucleus and reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex.3