For the first time in her life, Alex's brain has calmed down. At 41, she received a diagnosis of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Like Ashley Nicole Black, Greta Gerwig, or Paris Hilton, who were diagnosed with the condition when they were already in their thirties, Alex is part of a growing number of women who are being diagnosed with ADHD later in life. "For a long time, it was believed that ADHD was a childhood disorder that only affected boys," writes the American magazine The Cut. However, the recent increase in ADHD diagnoses among women—sometimes well into adulthood—has led to a reconsideration of this view. Between 2020 and 2022, the number of American women aged 23 to 49 who received an ADHD diagnosis nearly doubled. "This increase in ADHD diagnoses among women is the result of both scientific and cultural factors," analyzes The Cut. The disorder now known by the acronym "ADHD" was first included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1968, a manual that was later updated in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1994, to receive an ADHD diagnosis according to the DSM-IV (the fourth edition of the DSM), patients had to present at least six symptoms of inattention (carelessness errors, difficulty concentrating, etc.) or six symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity (restlessness, logorrhea, impulsive responses, etc.). Some of these symptoms had to be present before the age of 7 and significantly disrupt daily life. The problem is that many doctors favored the second group of symptoms, which were more obvious. However, clinical psychologist Ellen B. Littman, cited by The Cut, recalls having seen many young girls in the 1990s exhibiting signs of inattention, but less marked hyperactivity and impulsivity. Moreover, the magazine adds, "through a combination of intelligence and social conditioning, girls were able to discreetly channel their energy, for example by pulling out their hair with combs or making doodles." And "since they did not disrupt the class, teachers did not sound the alarm." Finally, "for many girls (even those who were inattentive), the symptoms began after the age of 7, which made them ineligible for an ADHD diagnosis." It was not until 2013 that the change in ADHD criteria introduced by the DSM-V massively opened the door to diagnosis for girls and women. The authors then distinguish three types: ADHD predominantly inattention, ADHD predominantly hyperactivity-impulsivity, and a combination of the two (mixed ADHD). They also introduced the possibility of specifying severity. For the first time, it was possible to speak of "mild," "moderate," or "severe" ADHD. "More importantly, the DSM-V shifts the age of onset of symptoms from 7 to 12 years, an age at which they generally become evident in girls," notes The Cut. Research on the links between hormones and ADHD is still limited. However, according to psychiatrist Sandra Kooij, professor in Amsterdam and founder of the European Network Adult ADHD, cited by The Cut, and other doctors who treat women with ADHD, "hormonal fluctuations may explain why women who have long excelled may start to spiral out of control at a mature age." "The same goes for adult women during other periods of hormonal transition. When estrogen levels decrease, especially over long periods (after childbirth or during perimenopause, for example), dopamine levels also decrease, leading to prolonged distress," adds The Cut. Today, mental health in general and neurodivergence in particular are less stigmatized—which is good news. However, "although the change in the DSM provides a more concrete framework for the manifestation of ADHD in women, it has not yet been integrated into collective awareness," laments the magazine. "Boys are not necessarily more prone to ADHD, but they have twice the likelihood of receiving a diagnosis during childhood."