A Welcome Discussion

Hi friend,

All of a sudden, everyone’s talking about women, age, and ADHD. There was The Atlantic, which published this feature last Wednesday, then The Cut, which dove into it the day after (hate when that happens), followed by the Vox podcast Today, Explained on Sunday.

A few months ago, it was in The 19th News. And we published this story in 2023 about women, age, and ADHD, which was excerpted from an entire book about it. Another book — Female Hormones and ADHD: The Impact on Brain and Body (Bookshop, Amazon) — is due this spring.

As a service to readers who might not have the tolerance for two extremely long stories, both behind a paywall, here are a few takeaways in bullet form:

• There is very little known about the brain during perimenopause and menopause. We do not have comprehensive studies.

• Estradiol can promote the release of dopamine in the brain, and dopamine helps manage ADHD. Less dopamine, worse ADHD symptoms (applies to perimenopause, but also puberty).

• Emotional de-regulation can be a major symptom of ADHD in women. This is medical consensus in Europe, but not America (per The Cut).

• Brain fog does not equal ADHD. What’s happening to your brain could be ADHD, or not, or ADHD in combo with a bunch of other aging-related brain changes. (Two thirds of women reportedly experience cognitive impairment prior to menopause.) If you’re really struggling, don’t assume ADHD; make sure it’s not MND — mild neurocognitive disorder, a precursor to dementia.

• The clinical guidelines for diagnosing and treating ADHD are for kids, not adults. It can present differently in adulthood.

• Girls are less frequently diagnosed than boys, so many adult women may have been missed in childhood and have been living with this their entire lives. Research on ADHD has predominantly relied upon white males, so our clinical understanding of ADHD is based upon a male presentation. Early indicators in girls can look different (disorganization, distractibility, hyperverbal).

• Social media has increased awareness of adult ADHD, and prescriptions have risen as a result, yet stimulants aren’t prescribed to adults as often as they are to kids. (Most ADHD drugs haven’t been tested in people older than 55 or 65!) Physicians may hesitate to prescribe due to blood pressure concerns in older patients.

ADHD as a diagnosis is, in relative terms, new; it became part of the diagnostic criteria in the US in 1968, when it was called “hyperkinetic reaction of childhood.” The idea that ADHD persisted into adulthood was accepted by the medical establishment in the ‘90s. It’s clear there’s so much more to discover, particularly when it comes to women.

Bye,
Your friends at Gloria

We’re taking a glass-half-full approach to jeans right now. Which is: It’s hard to go wrong. There’s high, low, and mid-rise; there are all sorts of washes, from light to dark rinse; there are straight-legs, boot-cuts, wide-legs, and barrels. It’s all about what works for you. We surveyed the latest styles from a range of solid denim makers (including a few brands the fashion world is obsessing over), and pulled 13 we really like.

• A very cute and summery 100% cotton style. Calvin Klein Wide-Leg Jeans, $104.30. Waist size 24 to 33.

• This is a skinny-ish jean that’s actually wearable, with the perfect wash and just the right amount of stretch (these are also cute, but run tiny). Mother The Mid-Rise Dazzler, $238. Waist size 23 to 34.

• A straight-leg pulled from the ‘90s. Levi’s ‘90s Selvedge Jeans, $74.98. Waist size 23 to 34.

• A downtown-cool brand turning out excellent low-rise options. Still Here Life Jean, $280. Waist size 22 to 32.

• We featured these in an image last week, and loved them so much we had to include. Gap Mid-Rise UltraSoft Denim Easy Horseshoe Jeans, $99.95. Size XXS to XXL.

• Hits the trends (lower rise, barrel shape) without going too far in a weird direction. La Ligne Marilyn Jean, $250. Waist size 23 to 34.

• Really like the fit and wash of this classic pair from Cos. Cos Reprise Straight-Leg Jeans, $129. Waist size 23 to 32.

• Denimhead Jane Herman brought these to our attention. The price is prohibitive, but they’re a good visual for where denim is headed right now. The Feel Studio The Genuine Jean, $495. Size 24 to 38.

• Impressed by the look of these, which have a teensy bit of stretch for comfort. Pilcro Kayden Carpenter Barrel Jeans, $148. Waist size 23 to 34 standard, and up to 26W in plus.

• The ultimate wishlist jean. Ruadh The Cecile Jean, $540. Waist size 23 to 32.

• Reformation enlisted a denim expert, and it really shows. Reformation Val ‘90s Mid-Rise Straight Jeans, $178. Waist size 23 to 34.

• Kind of stunned at how quickly this collab is selling out. Madewell x Benjamin Talley Smith The Coolidge Low-Rise Wide-Leg Jean, $285. Waist size 24 to 32.

• If you’re looking for a non-basic jean, these are worth considering. Mango Balloon Jeans With Seams, $90. Size 0 to 14.

Shop the Story

If you love designer bags but don’t necessarily want to own them, Vivrelle is worth knowing about. It’s a membership service that lets you borrow authentic luxury handbags and accessories from brands like Loewe, Chanel, Dior, and more for a monthly fee. They offer a few tiers starting at $139 a month.

You can carry the bag you’ve been eyeing without the long-term commitment, and swap styles as your plans or mood change. It’s a smart option if you appreciate great design, but don’t feel the need to build a permanent collection.

Just for Gloria readers, your first month is free with code GLORIA. #partner

TO LISTEN Actress Christina Applegate was one of the most intimidating interviews we’ve ever conducted. She’s tough, she’s no BS, and she’s been in the business forever. Now she’s out with a vulnerable memoir (Bookshop, Amazon) detailing an abusive childhood, her long Hollywood career, and how her life’s been affected by MS. We just started listening to it; she narrates. You can read an excerpt here.

TO SHOP This groundbreaking vibrating ring for women helps boost arousal and natural lubrication during menopause and hormone shifts. It adjusts to your shape magnifying sensations across the entire vulva. Even doctors recommend it. FDA-registered, FSA/HSA eligible, Award-winning. And it’s 50% off today. #partner

TO BAKE This Nigella Lawson polenta cake is extremely delicious. It has a buttery-craggy texture that’s almost scone-like, and we love the lemon zest. Note: It was plenty sweet without the syrup.

TO WATCH The new French nail-biter The Hunt (out tomorrow on Apple TV) is about a group of hunters who find themselves a target. There was a bit of controversy over the series due to plagiarism accusations; it’s heavily inspired by the ‘73 Douglas Fairbairn novel Shoot. Also now on streaming: the Claire Foy film H is for Hawk, which is based on the life and memoir of falconer Helen Macdonald.

TO READ The much-anticipated new historic novel Where the Girls Were (Bookshop, Amazon) takes us back to 1968, and the events that unfold in the life of a pregnant teenager prior to the passage of Roe v. Wade. Still very relevant!

“Martha Stewart, my mother the hoarder, and me.” • Turns out, almost everything we learned about the Maya as a kid was wrong? • A guide to the current microdosing trends. • A new word for a new age: “bossware.” • “Can Gucci make luxury AI?” • A story about hotel trends for 2026 is also a story about the economy.

_{*Gloria may receive an affiliate commission on purchases made through our newsletter.}