New figures suggest a sharp rise in people over 50 being diagnosed with ADHD or autism, with many only recognising these conditions later in life. The data, from a UK travel insurance provider, shows a marked increase in customers declaring these conditions when buying cover. The findings matter because they point to growing awareness of neurodivergent conditions in older adults, who may have lived for decades without a diagnosis or support.
What happened
Travel insurance provider Staysure reported a significant rise in the number of over-50s declaring ADHD or autism on their policies. According to the company, declarations in this age group rose from 2,613 in 2025 to 4,676 between January and July 2026, an increase of 79 per cent in seven months. Across all age groups, ADHD declarations more than doubled, with 21,620 cases recorded in the first seven months of 2026 compared with 9,938 across the whole of the previous year. The company also noted that mental health and neurodivergent conditions were declared over 335,000 times in the same period, a rise of 72 per cent on the year before.
Why this is happening
According to Dr Asimah Hanif, an NHS GP who works with Staysure, several factors may explain why more adults are being diagnosed later in life. She said traits can be overlooked or misunderstood, particularly when people have learned to hide or manage their symptoms without realising why they struggle in certain situations. Increased public awareness, changes to diagnostic guidance, and better recognition of how these conditions can appear in adults may also be encouraging more people to seek assessment, even later in life.
The rise in declarations comes as the Department of Health and Social Care carries out an independent review looking at how neurodivergent conditions are diagnosed, including concerns about both underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis. Staysure’s chief growth officer, Simon McCulloch, said the figures reflect people finally receiving a diagnosis and having the awareness to declare it to their insurer.
Why this matters for patients
For people managing digestive health conditions alongside ADHD or autism, recognising a neurodivergent condition can help explain difficulties with routine, planning, or coping with unfamiliar situations, including travel. Dr Hanif noted that the demands of travel, such as planning ahead, unfamiliar environments, and disrupted routines, can make these challenges more noticeable. Understanding individual needs, and being open with insurers about diagnosed conditions, medication, or ongoing investigation, was described as important for ensuring appropriate support and financial protection while travelling.
What to keep in mind
These figures come from one insurance provider’s customer data, not from a national health survey, so they may not fully represent wider diagnosis trends across the UK. The rise in declarations may reflect increased awareness and willingness to disclose a condition, rather than a true rise in how common these conditions are. The independent government review into diagnosis practices had not been published in full detail within the material reviewed for this article, so its specific findings cannot yet be reported.
Reference
Staysure, data release reported in Daily Mirror, “Over-50s ‘finally receiving diagnosis’ as ADHD and autism diagnoses surge”, 11 October 2026. The independent Department of Health and Social Care review into the diagnosis of neurodivergent conditions is referenced in this reporting but was not available as a published document at the time of writing, so it cannot be cited directly.
This article is a journalistic summary for informational purposes only. It does not constitute clinical advice or a recommendation to alter treatment decisions.