Aging Untold: Understanding ADHD, autism and other conditions in older adults
(Aging Untold) — On this episode of Aging Untold, we focus on the challenges of neurodiversity later in life and practical ways to cope, build skills and reset expectations for older adults and the loved ones who care for them.
Plus, how cognitive baseline testing can track brain health over time, why older adults are often targeted by scammers, and a nonverbal artist whose paintings and poetry challenge assumptions about communication and ability.
Understanding ADHD, autism and other conditions in older adults
Many older adults have lived their entire lives with undiagnosed ADHD, autism, dyslexia or OCD — conditions that were rarely identified in their generation, according to the Aging Untold experts.
Staying focused and on track can get harder when retirement or health changes take away routines for neurodiverse older adults.
Understanding neurodiversity in aging can help families provide better support and avoid misdiagnosing lifelong traits as dementia.
How cognitive baseline testing can track brain health over time
Cognitive baseline testing provides a snapshot of how your brain is functioning now, allowing you to track changes over the years and catch potential issues early.
The earlier you establish this baseline, the better equipped you’ll be to notice meaningful changes and take action, according to Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician.
She compares cognitive baseline testing to routine health checks: “When you go to the doctor, you get your blood pressure taken, you get your temperature checked, you have a baseline. So if something changes, you know it and you can assess that.”
The timing of when to get the test depends on your individual risk factors and health history.
Medicare phone scam targets seniors
A woman in Wisconsin said she was coerced into believing she lost her Medicare benefits and had to cooperate to get them back.
This elaborate scheme is targeting seniors and their Medicare benefits.
The woman, who we are calling Janet, said she was on the phone for hours with callers impersonating Medicare, a pharmacy and her doctors when she was told her Medicare benefits were terminated.
Nonverbal autistic artist shares his voice through first gallery exhibit
Charles Lenny Lunn was born with a rare genetic disorder linked with autism and apraxia, leaving him unable to speak or plan and execute movements, his mother, Lorie Peters Lauthier, said.
She said a doctor told her to put her son in a home when he was 10 months old, saying he would never be more than a vegetable.
Now in his 30s, Lunn held his first gallery exhibit in Washington, D.C., sharing his perspective through abstract paintings and poetry composed on a letter board.
His work opened at Lost Origins Gallery, marking the first time he publicly shared his art and written words.
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