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Long considered a childhood condition, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasingly recognized as a significant concern for adults. Now, new research is shedding light on the underdiagnosis of this condition, while also revealing a troubling trend: adults with ADHD may face a significantly shorter lifespan.
This raises critical questions, such as what factors contribute to this increased risk and how can healthcare systems better support the unique needs of adults living with ADHD? Click through to find out.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, with prevalence rates estimated at 5-7.2% among youth and 2.5-6.7% among adults.
This translates to around 366 million adults living with ADHD worldwide—a number comparable to the entire US population.
Recent research reveals that a staggering 6.8% of the global adult population now lives with ADHD, marking a significant rise from the 4.4% reported in 2003.
Contrary to the common perception of ADHD as a childhood condition, a significant majority–up to 90%–of children with ADHD continue to experience symptoms into adulthood.
Moreover, adult diagnoses are not uncommon; one study found that 75% of adults with ADHD had not been previously diagnosed in childhood.
As a result, many adults are beginning to recognize that their persistent challenges with focus, organization, and impulse control could actually be linked to undiagnosed ADHD.
With growing awareness of the disorder, specialists have been increasingly focused on studying its effects on adult life.
A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry has shed new light on the long-term health implications of ADHD.
It analyzed data from 9,561,450 patients in Britain’s National Health Service primary care practices, including 30,039 individuals diagnosed with ADHD.
Each individual with ADHD was matched with 10 peers without the condition.
During the follow-up period, which spanned from 2000 to 2019, 193 male patients and 148 female patients with ADHD passed away.
While previous research has linked ADHD to various health risks, this study is the first to utilize all-cause mortality data to estimate the life expectancy of individuals with the disorder.
The study, which involved over 30,000 British adults diagnosed with ADHD, revealed that, on average, they had a shorter life expectancy compared to the general population—about seven years earlier for men, and nine years earlier for women.
The authors reinforced findings from previous studies, confirming that ADHD is greatly underdiagnosed.
They also pointed out that many participants in their study—most of whom were diagnosed as young adults—could be among those most severely affected by the condition.
Previous research has also pointed to a connection between ADHD and higher mortality rates.
A 2022 meta-analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics revealed that individuals with ADHD are at a notably higher risk of premature death, especially from causes like accidents and suicide, when compared to the general population.
A 2019 study that used actuarial tables to estimate life expectancy found that adults diagnosed with ADHD in childhood had a life expectancy 8.4 years shorter than the general population.
Although the new study did not identify the precise causes of premature death in individuals with ADHD, it uncovered a concerning set of risk factors.
The authors linked this shorter lifespan to factors like lower education and income levels, higher rates of smoking and alcohol use, and poor sleep habits.
Russell Barkley, the lead author of the study, emphasized that ADHD should be viewed not as a fleeting childhood condition, like bedwetting, but as a lifelong challenge.
ADHD is a chronic condition that requires ongoing management, much like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. "You’ve got to treat this for life," he highlights.
Compared to the general population, individuals with ADHD were twice as likely to smoke or abuse alcohol and exhibited significantly higher rates of autism, self-harm, and personality disorders.
As Joshua Stott, a professor of aging and clinical psychology at University College London and an author of the study, emphasized, "Adults with ADHD often struggle with impulse control, leading to increased engagement in risky behaviors."
If the increased mortality is linked to misdiagnoses and a lack of support that adults with ADHD often face, adapting these treatments could help. "If it’s about systems, it’s malleable," Stott said.
Healthcare systems, for example, could make a significant impact by adjusting to better support people with ADHD, who may face challenges like sensory sensitivities, difficulty managing time, or struggling to communicate effectively during brief appointments with clinicians.
Stott also expressed hope that treatments for substance abuse or depression could be tailored to meet the needs of ADHD patients.
Although the specific causes of death weren't determined, Stott recommended that future research focus on risk factors like depression or the potential for self-harm. This, he believes, could help guide specialists in developing effective prevention strategies.
Sources: (The New York Times) (National Library of Medicine)
See also: How to identify the symptoms of ADHD
ADHD linked to significantly shorter lifespan, study finds
The serious health consequences of adult ADHD
HEALTH Psychology
Long considered a childhood condition, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasingly recognized as a significant concern for adults. Now, new research is shedding light on the underdiagnosis of this condition, while also revealing a troubling trend: adults with ADHD may face a significantly shorter lifespan.
This raises critical questions, such as what factors contribute to this increased risk and how can healthcare systems better support the unique needs of adults living with ADHD? Click through to find out.