Brain fog, forgetfulness, and loss of focus are central to the menopause conversation, but one expert warns that something critical is being missed. Licensed psychologist Dr. Connie McReynolds, author of Solving the ADHD Riddle, believes there is a growing and largely unrecognised overlap between menopause and ADHD, leaving women confused, misdiagnosed, and trying to make sense of symptoms that don’t quite add up. “I am seeing more women in midlife questioning what’s happening to them cognitively,” Dr. McReynolds says. “What looks like menopause on the surface could actually be long-standing ADHD that has never been identified, so when menopause is added into the mix, it becomes even harder to untangle.” Part of the issue lies in how ADHD has historically been recognised. Girls are far more likely to internalise their struggles rather than display disruptive behaviour, meaning many move through childhood undiagnosed, only for those challenges to resurface later in life. Dr. McReynolds explains, “Midlife can become a tipping point because the demands of work, family, and health changes start to show what’s been missed for years. The difficulty is that many ADHD symptoms, including poor concentration, forgetfulness, disorganisation, and difficulty following through, closely mirror those associated with menopause, so for women trying to understand what is happening, the two can feel almost indistinguishable.” Without identifying the root cause, many women are left managing symptoms rather than understanding them, and over time this can show up as mental fatigue, anxiety, and a gradual loss of confidence. Dr. McReynolds is calling…
