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Global challenge -

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.

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Putting it into perspective -

This translates to around 366 million adults living with ADHD worldwide—a number comparable to the entire US population.

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Living with it -

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.

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Not just children -

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.

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Late diagnoses -

Moreover, adult diagnoses are not uncommon; one study found that 75% of adults with ADHD had not been previously diagnosed in childhood.

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Symptoms -

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.

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Growing research -

With growing awareness of the disorder, specialists have been increasingly focused on studying its effects on adult life.

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New study -

A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry has shed new light on the long-term health implications of ADHD. 

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Methodology -

It analyzed data from 9,561,450 patients in Britain’s National Health Service primary care practices, including 30,039 individuals diagnosed with ADHD.

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Methodology -

Each individual with ADHD was matched with 10 peers without the condition.

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Concerning trend -

During the follow-up period, which spanned from 2000 to 2019, 193 male patients and 148 female patients with ADHD passed away.

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Life expectancy -

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.

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Life-threatening -

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.

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In the dark -

The authors reinforced findings from previous studies, confirming that ADHD is greatly underdiagnosed.

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Consequences -

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.

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Confirmation -

Previous research has also pointed to a connection between ADHD and higher mortality rates.

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Mortality rate -

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.

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Shorter life -

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.

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What are the reasons? -

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.

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What are the reasons? -

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.

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Taking it seriously -

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.

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Health conditions - Barkley, a retired clinical psychology professor from Virginia Commonwealth University, suggests that a useful comparison for ADHD is diabetes.

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Lifelong treatment -

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.

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Risky behavior -

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.

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Impulse control -

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."

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Treatment improvement -

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.

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Making adjustments -

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.

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More inclusive -

Stott also expressed hope that treatments for substance abuse or depression could be tailored to meet the needs of ADHD patients.

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Next steps -

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

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