It is thought around 2.6 million people in the UK suffer from the condition
New research suggests having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) could reduce your life expectancy. Scientists at University College London (UCL) claim it could cut your life short by as much as 11 years.
Interestingly, results appear to differ between men and women. Researchers said men with ADHD tended to live 4.5 to nine years less, while women’s lives were cut short by 6.5 to 11 years. It is thought around 2.6million people have been diagnosed with ADHD in the UK. The NHS says people with ADHD may ‘seem restless, may have trouble concentrating, and may act on impulse.’
“It is deeply concerning that some adults with diagnosed ADHD are living shorter lives than they should,” senior author Professor Josh Stott said. “People with ADHD have many strengths and can thrive with the right support and treatment. However, they often lack support and are more likely to experience stressful life events and social exclusion, negatively impacting their health and self-esteem.”
Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may become more noticeable when a child’s circumstances change, such as when they start school. Most are diagnosed by the age of 12, but increased awareness around the condition is thought to be behind an increasing number of adults being diagnosed. UCL researchers found there was a 20-fold increase among UK adults being diagnosed between 2000 and 2018, and an almost 5,000 per cent rise in ADHD prescriptions for men aged 18 to 29.
Published in The British Journal of Psychiatry, UCL analysed data from 30,029 adults across the UK who were diagnosed with ADHD and compared it to 300,390 participants who did not have it. The team, whose research is believed to be a world first, found that fewer than one in nine adults with ADHD had been diagnosed.
“We know from studies of traits in the community and from studies of childhood diagnosis that the rate of ADHD in our sample is just a fraction of what it should be,” Professor Stott said. There is a concern, however, that the numbers could be inaccurate due to many people going undiagnosed with ADHD. Dr Liz O’Nions, study author, said: “Only a small percentage of adults with ADHD have been diagnosed, meaning this study covers just a segment of the entire community.
“More of those who are diagnosed may have additional health problems compared to the average person with ADHD. Therefore, our research may over-estimate the life expectancy gap for people with ADHD overall, though more community-based research is needed to test whether this is the case.”
The symptoms of ADHD may improve with age, but many adults who were diagnosed with the condition at a young age continue to experience problems. People with ADHD may also have additional problems, such as sleep and anxiety disorders. Many children go through phases where they are restless or inattentive, and the NHS is quick to stress that this does not necessarily mean they have ADHD. But parents should discuss concerns with their child’s teacher, their school’s special educational needs co-ordinator, or a GP if they think their behaviour may be different from most children their age.
It is also a good idea to speak to a GP if you are an adult and think you may have ADHD, but were not diagnosed with the condition as a child. The exact cause of ADHD is unknown, but the condition has been shown to run in families. Research has also identified a number of possible differences in the brains of people with ADHD when compared with those without the condition. Other factors suggested as potentially having a role in ADHD include:
- being born prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy)
- having a low birthweight
- smoking or alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy
ADHD can occur in people of any intellectual ability, although it’s more common in people with learning difficulties. For children with ADHD, although there’s no cure, it can be managed with appropriate educational support, advice and support for parents and affected children, alongside medicine, if necessary.
Dr O’Nions said: “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. It is crucial that we find out the reasons behind premature deaths so we can develop strategies to prevent these in future.”
