People with ADHD are more likely to die earlier, a new study finds
A new study found that people with ADHD likely have a shorter life expectancy.
It found men died about seven years earlier and women died nine years sooner than their peers.
ADHD is linked to more impulsive or disorganized behavior, which could lead to worse health outcomes.
A new study of British adults found that people with ADHD died earlier than their peers without the disorder.
On average, the research found men with ADHD died about seven years earlier, while women died nine years sooner than their peers without ADHD.
Published by the British Journal of Psychiatry, the study looked at data on 30,000 people diagnosed with ADHD and compared it with data from about 300,000 people without it — all about the same age and general health status.
While the study didn't explore the causes of death, the researchers said ADHD symptoms such as impulsivity, hyperactivity, and forgetfulness could lead to "modifiable risk factors."
ADHD is a neurological disorder linked to other health issues, such as risky substance use, and other disorders, including autism.
"To me, the best analog is diabetes," Russell Barkley, the lead author of a 2019 study on ADHD and shorter estimated life expectancy, told The New York Times. "This is a disorder that you've got to manage, like high blood pressure, like cholesterol and diabetes. You've got to treat this for life."
ADHD can heighten impulsive behavior
The study is observational, which means it does not show a causal relationship between ADHD and earlier death. It also leaves unanswered questions about what could be driving a connection.
Previous studies found a link between ADHD and risky behaviors like substance misuse. In a press release, Philip Asherson, a professor of molecular psychiatry at King's College London, said that adults with ADHD were more likely to engage in unhealthy habits such as smoking or binge eating.
Over time, this can lead to health risks. "We know that ADHD is associated with higher rates of smoking, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer among other health problems," he said.
Early intervention can help
The British study said many people were undiagnosed in the UK.
Oliver Howes, a professor of molecular psychiatry at King's College London who was not involved in the research, said in a statement to reporters that the study is "striking in showing how few people with ADHD get a diagnosis." The study pulled from a dataset of more than 9 million British adults, 1% of whom were diagnosed with ADHD.
The study researchers said that "unmet support and treatment needs" could be one of the causes of earlier death in people with ADHD.
Getting a diagnosis can help a person with ADHD find ways to manage their symptoms, be it from medication or adjustments in how they work or stay organized.
Correction: January 23, 2025 — An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the number of people studied. The study pulled approximately 330,000 people from a dataset of 9 million people, it did not study 9 million people.
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