New research links ADHD with earlier deaths

People diagnosed with ADHD have a shorter lifespan and a higher risk for other mental health disorders, according to a new study published in The British Journal of Psychiatry.

Let’s break it down: The research team analyzed data from 30,000 adults diagnosed with ADHD, then compared them to a group of ~300,000 participants without ADHD.

They found men with diagnosed ADHD can expect an average reduction in life expectancy of 4.5-9 years, while women lose an average of 6.5-11 years.

• The study also found ADHD is linked with a higher risk of mental health issues like anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide, and personality disorders.
• Those with ADHD are also more likely to have autism, intellectual disabilities, harmful habits like smoking or alcohol abuse, and physical health problems like diabetes or high cholesterol.

But…The research was based on observational data – which leaves many questions unanswered, since a cause-and-effect relationship can’t be conclusively established. The study’s authors also didn’t control for race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors, all of which can affect life expectancy.

📸 Big picture: An estimated 6.0% of US adults (15.5 million) and 11.4% of US children (7 million) have been diagnosed with ADHD – though the study’s authors say it’s possible many more people live with the condition but go undiagnosed.