A recent study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry unveils alarming findings about adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The research, conducted in the United Kingdom, reveals that adults diagnosed with ADHD tend to have a significantly shorter life expectancy compared to those without the disorder. The study highlights the importance of addressing ADHD treatment not only in children but also in adults, as untreated ADHD can lead to severe health complications and a reduced lifespan.
In an extensive evaluation of primary care data involving over 30,000 adults diagnosed with ADHD, researchers compared this group to more than 300,000 participants without the diagnosis. These participants were carefully matched by age, sex, and primary care practice. The results showed a stark contrast in life expectancy, with men diagnosed with ADHD living approximately seven years less and women about nine years less than their counterparts without ADHD.
The study identifies several predictors of shorter life expectancy among adults with ADHD. These include socioeconomic factors such as lower incomes and fewer years of education, along with lifestyle concerns like smoking, inadequate sleep, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, and risky driving habits. These elements contribute significantly to the increased risk of health problems such as diabetes and heart disease, as well as early death through accidental injuries and suicide.
Experts emphasize that ADHD's impact on life is not due to the disorder itself but rather how it influences decision-making and lifestyle choices. According to Max Wiznitzer, a professor of pediatric neurology at Case Western Reserve University, impulsivity plays a significant role.
"It's not the ADHD, it's the impact of the ADHD on how you live," said Josh Stott, a professor of aging and clinical psychology at University College London.
"Because you're impulsive, you don't make the best choices," added Wiznitzer.
Addressing these challenges is crucial for improving health outcomes in individuals with ADHD. Treatment options such as medications and behavioral therapy offer effective strategies for managing executive function problems, which are characteristic of ADHD. Behavioral therapy, in particular, equips individuals with skills to handle these challenges more effectively.
"If you treat the ADHD, if you teach them the life skills that they need in order to work with the executive function difficulties so that they're modifiable, that lessens the risk of all the complications that can develop," emphasized Wiznitzer.
These findings align with previous research, including a 2019 study by Russell Barkley, which tracked children with ADHD into adulthood. This study also found a reduced life expectancy and more years of unhealthy living among those with untreated ADHD. Barkley further asserts that most of these risk factors are modifiable.
"These factors – virtually all of them can be changed," noted Barkley.
