Adults with ADHD May Have Shorter Life Expectancy Than Those Without

Learn more about why adults with ADHD may see a decreased life expectancy and why better treatment options need to be available.

By Monica Cull
Jan 23, 2025 11:00 PMJan 23, 2025 10:59 PM
Adult with ADHD
(Credit: Srdjan Randjelovic/Shutterstock)

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According to a new U.K. study published in The British Journal of Psychiatry, adults diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have shorter life spans than those without. In this first-of-its-kind study, the authors determined that both men and women saw a drop in life expectancy, and this may be due to limited access to treatments and an overall misdiagnosis of ADHD.   

A Shortened Life Expectancy 

Researchers from the University College London (UCL) analyzed data from 30,029 adults in the U.K. with an ADHD diagnosis. They then compared that data against data collected from 300,390 study participants without an ADHD diagnosis, pairing them by age, gender, and type of medical care. 

The findings show that men with ADHD have about a 7-year life span reduction while women with ADHD have about 9.

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