Jools Oliver on a late ADHD diagnosis: "no superpower", and what her story tells us

Jools Oliver has spoken about being diagnosed with ADHD and autism as an adult and says not knowing affected 45 years of her life. Here is what she said, and what it illustrates about late diagnosis, family, menopause and medication worries.

Speaking on the Lessons From Our Mothers podcast, Jools Oliver, wife of chef Jamie Oliver, described what it has been like to be diagnosed with ADHD and autism as an adult. She is 51, and her account has been widely reported this week. It isn't our place to comment on her health. But what she said touches on several things we hear from readers all the time, so it's worth looking at what her story illustrates.

What she said

• ✓She said her ADHD diagnosis came about four years ago. After a couple of her children were diagnosed with autism, she recognised herself in them and sought an assessment, and she now has both diagnoses.
• ✓She said not understanding what was going on had affected 45 years of her life, and that she thought it was something else for most of that time.
• ✓She described the experience as draining and tiring, and said it was "really hard work".
• ✓She told friends and family through her 50th birthday invitation, which she described as her way of coming out. She said some people were put off.
• ✓She said she has been prescribed medication but is afraid to take it because of health anxiety, and called it an ongoing situation.
• ✓She said that, with neurodiversity, menopause is a "double nightmare", and that she sometimes can't tell which one is behind how she's feeling.

"It's no superpower. It's just a drain and it's just really hard work."

— Jools Oliver, Lessons From Our Mothers

Her comments were reported by The Independent and Hello!.

1. Late diagnosis is common, especially for women

Getting a diagnosis in your late 40s isn't unusual, and it's a pattern we've seen many times. ADHD in women is often missed for years because it can look different from the stereotype. Our guide to why ADHD in women is missed for decades explains why. One person's story isn't evidence about anyone else's, but it does echo a lot of what people tell us.

2. A child's diagnosis can prompt a parent's

Many adults first wonder about ADHD when a child is assessed. That isn't surprising, because ADHD runs in families. A 2021 literature review in European Psychiatry notes that children of adults with ADHD are at higher risk of having it. Estimates of how much of this is down to genes vary widely depending on how ADHD is measured, from around 30 to 40% in twin studies of adults using self-report, to 60 to 90% in studies using parent and teacher ratings.

None of that means a parent will have ADHD because their child does. It does mean that recognising yourself in your child's assessment is a common experience, and a reasonable reason to explore it.

3. "Superpower" or struggle? Both can be true

ADHD is often talked about as a strength, and for some people in some settings it is. We've written about how the work often fits in creative industries. Her comment is a useful counterweight. For many people, ADHD is tiring and hard, and it isn't helpful to be told to see it as a gift. Neither account is wrong. ADHD affects people very differently, and what a person says about their own experience is theirs to define.

4. Menopause and ADHD can overlap

Her question, whether it's menopause or neurodiversity, is one many women ask. A 2025 review in Frontiers in Global Women's Health, written by a group of researchers focused on ADHD in women, argues that hormonal transitions can make ADHD symptoms and mood worse, and that research and tailored treatment for this are lacking. It also notes that no studies have yet looked specifically at how executive function changes across the menopausal transition in women with ADHD. In short, the evidence is early, and the review calls for longitudinal studies.

In practice, a good assessment looks at other possible explanations alongside ADHD. If you're in perimenopause or menopause, mention it, along with sleep and mood, so the clinician has the full picture.

5. It's common to be nervous about medication

She said she has medication she's scared to take. Worry about starting ADHD medication is common, and it's your choice whether to take it. If anxiety is what's stopping you, tell your prescriber directly. They can explain what monitoring involves, which typically includes regular checks on things like blood pressure and pulse, and how the dose is adjusted gradually. Our guide to ADHD medication and titration in the UK covers what to expect.

6. Telling people is your decision

She chose a public and very personal way of telling people, and she said the reaction was mixed. You don't have to announce anything. At work, you can ask for support without a formal diagnosis. Here is how Access to Work and reasonable adjustments work.

If you'd like to explore it, our free 3-minute screener is a starting point, and our directory lists accredited private ADHD clinics across the UK.