People With ADHD May Die Years Before Their Peers, Study Reveals Experts explain the risks, how ADHD impacts long-term health, and what you can do to manage it
A new study linked ADHD to a reduced life expectancy
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- The life expectancy of people with ADHD may be about eight years shorter than their peers, a new study found.
- The finding can be explained by the riskier behaviors and lifestyle factors associated with ADHD.
- To manage the condition, experts recommended creating a sustainable treatment plan with your doctor, typically with medication and therapy.
Having ADHD is associated with a shorter life expectancy, according to a recent study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
Formally known as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD is a chronic condition that can make it difficult to pay attention, control impulses, and stay calm. The condition, which usually lasts into adulthood, impacts an estimated 7% of the global population.
The study’s results align with previous research on ADHD and life expectancy. “The findings are not surprising and mirror other population-based analyses,” Barry K. Herman, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and chief medical officer at Mentavi Health who wasn’t affiliated with the research, told Health.
Here’s what researchers discovered—and how to manage ADHD to minimize risks.
What Did the Study Find?
Researchers analyzed data from 792 general practices in the United Kingdom. They compared mortality rates for more than 30,000 adults with diagnosed ADHD to a control group of over 300,000. Men with ADHD had a reduction in life expectancy of about 6.8 years, while women with ADHD had a reduction of about 8.6 years.
Because women live longer than men on average, the research didn’t show that women with ADHD have a shorter lifespan than men with ADHD. But the findings did reveal that the condition may have a greater impact on women’s mortality—something researchers are still trying to understand.
The study findings are similar to previous research on ADHD and mortality rates. A 2019 study from the U.S. estimated a similar reduction for childhood ADHD—about eight years, though ADHD that persisted into adulthood was associated with an almost 13-year reduction in life expectancy. However, that paper relied on self-reported lifestyle variables rather than concrete mortality data to estimate life expectancy.
A 2022 meta-analysis of studies conducted in mostly Western countries, however, found that while people with ADHD had higher rates of death from unnatural causes, their risk of death from natural causes was not significantly different from the general population.
What Are the Limitations?
While this new study is impressive in its scope, experts said it does have limitations.
“The U.K. population is close and approximate to the U.S. population, but if you’re in the U.S., it’s definitely a different health system with different life expectancies at baseline,” Nathan Carroll, DO, chief psychiatry resident at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, told Health. “There’s also a bigger lag time between the presentation of ADHD symptoms and the diagnosis of ADHD in the UK.”
Another key limitation is that the study only considered diagnosed ADHD cases, but many people go undiagnosed. That discrepancy could have skewed the data. The researchers “really do need to factor that in a little more strongly for us to draw conclusions about ADHD’s impact on life expectancy,” Carroll said.
Why Would ADHD Reduce Life Expectancy?
Unlike conditions such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes, ADHD itself isn’t inherently life-threatening. However, the behaviors and lifestyle factors associated with the condition may contribute to a shorter lifespan.
Behavioral disinhibition—the inability to control impulses, emotions, and attention—is a trait common to ADHD and can affect decision-making. “Adults with ADHD tend to be disorganized and impulsive in their lifestyles,” Herman said. “They engage in more risky behaviors, are more likely to have driving and other accidents, and have higher rates of substance abuse.”
Many people with ADHD also struggle with stable housing, financial security, and health literacy—social determinants known to affect individual health. They may be less likely to monitor existing health conditions, keep doctors’ appointments, or adhere to treatment recommendations. ADHD is also linked to increased rates of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
“If ADHD is getting diagnosed, the symptoms have to be disruptive enough that they’re impairing an individual in different domains,” Carroll said. “It’s more of an uphill battle for them at baseline.”
Another potential factor is the long-term impact of medication. “ADHD treatment is often managed with stimulants, which have cardiovascular impacts that could also shorten the lifespan,” Carroll said.
A 2023 study found that long-term exposure to ADHD medication was associated with an increased risk of hypertension and arterial disease. The study reported that for each additional year of ADHD medication use, there was a 4% higher chance of cardiovascular disease, with the greatest risk occurring in the first three years before stabilizing.
How to Manage ADHD
Carroll emphasized that people shouldn’t be afraid to get an ADHD diagnosis in light of this news. “The diagnosis isn’t the thing that is dangerous,” he said. “It’s everything that comes with ADHD, like the social vulnerabilities.”
Medication is the first line of defense, but you should also use behavioral strategies to manage ADHD. “When you address ADHD, it’s not just enough to take Adderall and say, ‘Hey, look, I’m treating my ADHD,’” Carroll said. “ADHD is not a disease that stands by itself. It’s a disease that you should think about in a holistic manner.”
This means developing individualized routines, using tools to stay organized, and working with professionals like psychiatrists and therapists to create sustainable strategies.
“Tailor-made ADHD management strategies that focus on the patient’s strengths, as well as challenges, can have huge positive impacts,” Michelle Dees, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist at Luxury Psychiatry Clinic, told Health. “Through the coordinated teamwork of healthcare providers, teachers, and parents, it is possible to create conditions that enable achievement while minimizing unnecessary risks.”
Jani Hall
Jani Hall is a news editor for Health with a background in health, science, and investigative reporting. Previously, she wrote full time about parenting issues for the app Parent Lab. Before that, she worked as a reporter for National Geographic covering wildlife crime and exploitation.
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This story originally appeared on: Health News - Author:Hannah Singleton
