A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at UCL reveals that adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have shorter life expectancies than normal.
Published in The British Journal of Psychiatry, the research examined anonymous primary care records from 30,029 adults in the UK who have been diagnosed with ADHD.
The researchers compared this group to 300,390 individuals without ADHD, ensuring they were matched by age, gender, and primary care provider.
The findings indicated that men diagnosed with ADHD have a reduced life expectancy ranging from 4.5 to 9 years, while women with the condition face a decline of between 6.5 and 11 years.
Professor Josh Stott, a senior author from UCL Psychology & Language Sciences, expressed concern, stating, “It’s alarming that many adults diagnosed with ADHD are living shorter lives than expected.”
He noted that “Although individuals with ADHD possess numerous strengths and can flourish when given appropriate support and treatment, they frequently lack this support. Consequently, they endure stressful life experiences and social isolation, which adversely affect their health and well-being.”
Additionally, the study revealed that fewer than one in nine adults with ADHD have received an official diagnosis, suggesting that only a small portion of the adult ADHD population was included in the study.
Professor Stott remarked, “Research has shown that the prevalence of ADHD in our sample represents only a small segment of what it should be.”
Individuals with ADHD often showcase unique attention patterns, characterized by high energy levels and an intense focus on subjects that captivate them. However, they may struggle with attention on everyday tasks.
This can contribute to increased impulsivity, restlessness, as well as difficulties in planning and managing time, leading to challenges in academic and professional settings. ADHD is a lifelong condition that starts in childhood and often persists into adulthood.
In the UK, ADHD is often inadequately treated in adults compared to other wealthier nations, with support services falling short.
This study is the first to estimate life expectancy among adults in the UK diagnosed with ADHD.
The researchers cautioned that the findings might overstate the reduction in life expectancy for those with ADHD due to the common occurrence of undiagnosed cases, particularly in adults.
Lead author Dr. Liz O’Nions from UCL Psychology & Language Sciences and Bradford Institute for Health Research commented, “Only a small fraction of adults with ADHD have been officially diagnosed, meaning our research represents just a slice of the larger community.”
“It’s also possible that those who have been diagnosed may face more health issues than the average individual with ADHD. Consequently, our study might overstate the life expectancy gap for the broader ADHD population, highlighting the need for further community-based research.”
Currently, there is a deficiency in specialized services for adults with ADHD in the UK.
For instance, a prior nationwide survey of adults aged 16-64 indicated that one-third of individuals with ADHD traits were receiving medication or counseling for mental health issues, in contrast to 11% of those without ADHD.
Nearly 8% of individuals who tested positive for ADHD reported seeking specific mental health treatment in the last year but did not receive it, compared to just 1% among those who did not test positive.
This points to the reality that adults with ADHD are attempting to access services, yet those services are inadequately equipped to assist them, despite acknowledgment of the impact of ADHD and the necessity for identification and treatment in NHS protocols.
This is a significant concern, as appropriate treatment and support for ADHD are linked to improved outcomes, including decreased mental health issues and substance abuse.
Dr. O’Nions stated, “While many individuals with ADHD lead long and healthy lives, our findings that they generally have shorter life expectancies signifies unmet support requirements. Identifying the causes behind premature deaths is critical to developing future prevention strategies.”
Limitations of the study
The data used in the study did not include causes of death, preventing researchers from connecting lost life years to specific reasons.
The lack of specialized adult ADHD assessment services in the UK may also mean diagnosed adults are disproportionately those with co-occurring mental health or neurodevelopmental conditions, which might skew results and lead to an exaggerated estimate of years of life lost.
The findings may not apply to different countries, time frames, or contexts.
