‘Deeply concerning’: Adults with ADHD may have shorter life expectancies

Adults diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have a shorter life expectancy than those without such a diagnosis, according to a new study that some experts have called “striking”.

ADHD is a condition characterised by restlessness, difficulties with concentration, and acting on impulse, according to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), with it most often diagnosed in children under the age of 12.

In a world-first study, researchers compared more than 30,000 adults in the UK with ADHD to more than 300,000 people without it.

The research was based on anonymised primary care records from between 2000 and 2019.

The study found that men diagnosed with ADHD had a life expectancy that was reduced by between 4.5 and 9 years, and women with ADHD had their life expectancy reduced by between 6.6 to 11 years compared to those without a diagnosis.

The study was published in the British Journal of Psychiatry on Thursday.

Josh Stott, senior author of the new research and a professor of ageing and clinical psychology at University College London, said it was “deeply concerning” that some adults with 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 said in a statement.

The researchers cautioned that ADHD in adults is often underdiagnosed, so the study may overestimate the life expectancy reductions, adding that more research is needed.

Kevin McConway, an emeritus professor of applied statistics at the Open University in the UK, who was not involved in the study,