It’s like smoking. A 20 year smoker will never be as healthy as they would have been without smoking. But someone who smoked for 20 years, then quit for 10 years will be far better off than a 30 year smoker.

ADHD treatment is effective in adults too. I wasn’t diagnosed until my 30s, and it’s something I’m (very mildly) bitter about not being treated sooner.

The big help is unpacking “maladaptations”. Most of ADHD’s problems aren’t direct, but a domino effect. We adapt to try and cope, but cause other problems. Coping with them cause yet more. The best solution is to nip it in the bus, during childhood. However, unpicking them as an adult is possible. The drugs help MASSIVELY with this, though significant personal effort is also required.