People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have a “deeply concerning” reduced life expectancy compared to those without it, a UK study of over 30,000 individuals with diagnosed ADHD has suggested. For male participants, ADHD was associated with a reduction in life expectancy of 4.5 to 9 years, and for female participants, the reduction ranged from 6.5 to 11 years.
Key findings from the study:
- Reduced Life Expectancy: Adults with ADHD live 4.5–9 years less (males) and 6.5–11 years less (females).
- Challenges in Diagnosis and Awareness: The true prevalence of ADHD in adults is likely much higher than reported
- Lack of Support: UK services for adult ADHD are under-resourced and lag behind those for other common conditions.
Reflecting on their findings, the study’s senior author Professor Josh Stott said in a statement: “It is deeply concerning that some adults with diagnosed ADHD are living shorter lives than they should.”
“People with ADHD have many strengths and can thrive with the right support and treatment. However, they often lack support and are more likely to experience stressful life events and social exclusion, negatively impacting their health and self-esteem,” he added.
“More of those who are diagnosed may have additional health problems compared to the average person with ADHD,” the study’s lead author Dr Liz O’Nions explained. “Therefore, our research may over-estimate the life expectancy gap for people with ADHD overall, though more community-based research is needed to test whether this is the case.”
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects focus, impulse control, and energy. People with the condition often experience difficulty with attention, organization, and completing routine tasks, while they can also focus intensely on areas that deeply interest them. Symptoms include hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and trouble with time management.
Worryingly, the new study is not the first to find this worrying link between ADHD and shorter lives. A 2019 study concluded that adults diagnosed with ADHD in childhood had a shorter expectancy – by an average of 8.4 years – less than the general population
A 2022 meta-analysis of 27 previous studies reached similar findings, concluding that people with ADHD (as well as autism spectrum disorder) lived shorter lives than their counterparts. For people with ADHD, deaths from “unnatural causes” – including accidents, poisoning, and suicide – were higher than expected.
So, what can we make of this latest research?
As an observational study, it’s found a clear link, although it’s not able to explain the exact nature of the relationship. In other words, it’s unclear why ADHD is associated with lower life expectancy.
“The precise causes of early death are not yet confirmed, but we know that ADHD is associated with higher rates of smoking, obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer among other health problems. Adults with ADHD are more likely to engage in unhealthy habits such as binge eating or smoking, and risk-taking behavior,” Professor Philip Asherson, Professor of Molecular Psychiatry at King’s College London, told the Science Media Centre, saying that it is an “excellent and well-conducted study.”
However, Professor Kevin McConway, Emeritus Professor of Applied Statistics at the Open University, said that “inevitably it leaves many important questions unanswered.
“There may also be biological links with autoimmune and other physical health disorders. ADHD is increasingly recognized as a serious condition in adults associated with poor health outcomes,” Asherson explained.
The new study also highlighted how mental health services in the UK are under massive strain and have a lack of specialist services for adult ADHD assessments. This lack of medical attention could be another factor contributing to the lowered life expectancy.
“Services to support adults with ADHD and improve both physical and mental health outcomes lag behind those for other common conditions such as anxiety, depression, hypertension and obesity. Of particular concern are limited access to diagnosis and treatment including psychosocial support. Until this is addressed the shorter life expectancy demonstrated in this study is likely to continue,” added Pressor Asherson.
The study is published in The British Journal of Psychiatry.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help and support are available in the US via the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline which can be contacted by dialing 988. In the UK and Ireland, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. International helplines can be found at SuicideStop.com.
