ADHD Linked to Shorter Lifespan: Study

A new study published Thursday by Cambridge University Press found that people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a shorter life expectancy.

The study found that male participants with ADHD lived seven years less than their female counterparts. Female participants with the disorder were more likely to lose 8 years of life, it found.

“Evidence that people diagnosed with ADHD are living shorter lives than they should be is deeply concerning, and highlights unmet support needs that require urgent attention,” the study’s authors wrote in the impact section.

“People with ADHD are more likely to experience a variety of adversities.”

Their research found that people with an ADHD diagnosis may engage in health-adverse habits such as smoking or risk-taking behaviors that may increase the likelihood of premature death.

The study used a life-table approach to calculate the life-expectancy deficit of people diagnosed with ADHD using UK primary care data.