Summary: A large UK study of more than 30,000 adults formally diagnosed with attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) found an apparent reduction in life expectancy compared with matched peers without ADHD. The estimated years of life lost ranged from about 4.5–9 years for men and 6.5–11 years for women. Researchers warn these figures may overstate the true average gap because many adults with ADHD remain undiagnosed and those who are diagnosed may have additional health conditions.
The research highlights that adult ADHD in the UK is frequently underdiagnosed and under‑resourced, and that improved access to assessment and treatment could reduce premature mortality and improve overall wellbeing for this group.
Key facts
- Life expectancy gap: Diagnosed ADHD is associated with an apparent reduction in life expectancy of roughly 4.5–11 years, depending on sex and analytical assumptions.
- Underdiagnosis: Fewer than 1 in 9 adults with ADHD in the UK appear to have a formal diagnosis recorded in primary care data used for the study.
- Treatment impact: Receiving appropriate ADHD assessment and treatment is linked to better mental‑health outcomes and reduced substance use, suggesting potential to improve longevity and quality of life.
Source: UCL
Overview
A team led by researchers at University College London analysed anonymised primary care records to estimate life expectancy for adults with a recorded diagnosis of ADHD. The study, published in The British Journal of Psychiatry, compared 30,029 adults aged 18 and over with a diagnosed ADHD code to a matched comparison group of 300,390 people without ADHD, matched 1:10 on age, sex and general practice.
Using age‑specific mortality rates derived from the primary care dataset and standard life‑table methods, the researchers estimated that men with diagnosed ADHD had an apparent life expectancy deficit of approximately 4.5–9 years, while women had an estimated deficit of about 6.5–11 years, depending on modelling choices and confidence intervals.
Professor Josh Stott (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences), senior author on the paper, commented that the findings are alarming but also highlight that many adults with ADHD can and do thrive when they receive timely support and treatment. He emphasised that adults with ADHD often face social exclusion, stressful life events and limited access to appropriate services, which may contribute to worse health outcomes.
Lead author Dr Liz O’Nions (UCL and Bradford Institute for Health Research) noted that the study covers only the subset of adults who have a recorded diagnosis in primary care records. Because many adults with ADHD remain undiagnosed, and because diagnosed individuals may be more likely to have co‑occurring health problems, the measured life‑expectancy gap may not reflect the average for all people with ADHD in the community.
ADHD commonly affects attention regulation, impulsivity and activity levels. Symptoms typically begin in childhood and can persist into adulthood, affecting education, employment, relationships and physical and mental health. Effective treatment and support — including medication, psychological interventions and reasonable adjustments at work or school — are associated with improved outcomes.
Service gaps and unmet need
The study underlines a broader problem in the UK: specialist adult ADHD services and resources are limited compared with other high‑income countries. National survey data cited by the researchers show that a higher proportion of adults with ADHD traits report seeking but not receiving mental‑health treatment compared with people without ADHD, indicating demand that current services are not meeting.
Because treatment and targeted support can reduce co‑occurring mental‑health problems and substance misuse, expanding diagnostic services and improving access to evidence‑based care may reduce avoidable harm and premature death among adults with ADHD.
Study limitations
The researchers had no linked cause‑of‑death data in the primary care dataset, so they could not attribute years of life lost to specific causes. The reliance on recorded diagnoses also means the sample may overrepresent people with additional physical or mental‑health comorbidities, which could bias estimates upward. Finally, findings from this UK primary‑care cohort may not generalise to other countries, time periods or care settings.
About this ADHD and longevity research news
Author: Poppy Tombs
Source: UCL
Contact: Poppy Tombs – UCL
Image: Image credited to Neuroscience News
Original research (open access): Life expectancy and years of life lost for adults with diagnosed ADHD in the UK: matched cohort study — Josh Stott et al., British Journal of Psychiatry. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2024.199
Abstract (summary)
Background: Approximately 3% of adults have ADHD traits, but most adults with ADHD in the UK remain undiagnosed. Adults with ADHD are more likely to experience poorer education and employment outcomes, worse physical and mental health, and higher premature mortality risk.
Aims: To estimate life‑expectancy differences for adults with diagnosed ADHD in the UK using primary‑care data and life‑table methods.
Method: A matched cohort design using prospectively collected primary‑care records from 792 general practices (2000–2019) identified 30,039 adults with a recorded ADHD diagnosis and 300,390 matched comparators. Age‑specific mortality rates were estimated using Poisson regression, and life tables produced life‑expectancy estimates for people aged 18 and over with diagnosed ADHD.
Results: In the cohort, roughly 0.32% of adults had a recorded ADHD diagnosis, representing about 1 in 9 of the expected number of adults with ADHD. Diagnosed adults showed higher rates of common physical and mental health diagnoses than comparators. The apparent life‑expectancy reduction for adults with diagnosed ADHD was estimated at 6.78 years (95% CI: 4.50–9.11) for males and 8.64 years (95% CI: 6.55–10.91) for females.
Conclusions: Adults with a recorded diagnosis of ADHD in UK primary care appear to have shorter lifespans than matched peers. The authors suggest this gap is likely driven by modifiable risk factors, unmet needs for ADHD care and comorbid health problems. Because most adults with ADHD are undiagnosed, these results may not apply to the full population of adults with ADHD.