People with ADHD have shorter life expectancy and higher risk of mental health issues, study finds – CTV

January 23, 2025

Having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is associated with a shorter life expectancy and a greater risk of mental health issues, according to a new study of more than 30,000 people with the disorder in the United Kingdom.

Men diagnosed with ADHD had a reduction in life expectancy by 4 ½ years to nine years, while women’s life expectancy was shortened by 6 ½ years to 11 years, according to the study published Thursday in The British Journal of Psychiatry.

“Although many people with ADHD live long and healthy lives, our finding that on average they are living shorter lives than they should indicates unmet support needs,” said lead study author Dr. Liz O’Nions, honorary research fellow in clinical, education and health psychology at University College London, in a news release. “It is crucial that we find out the reasons behind premature deaths so we can develop strategies to prevent these in the future.”

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that’s commonly diagnosed in childhood but often lasts into adulthood. People with ADHD have imbalanced neurotransmitters, one of which is dopamine. It’s a key neurotransmitter in the brain’s prefrontal cortex required to help us with executive function and self-regulation skills, which involve planning, focusing and sustaining attention, remembering instructions and multitasking.

Read more: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/people-with-adhd-have-shorter-life-expectancy-and-higher-risk-of-mental-health-issues-study-finds/