You probably know someone whose ADHD diagnosis came in adulthood.
Maybe a friend, a sibling, or you. The conversation usually centers on focus, work, and daily life, rarely on how long people with the condition tend to live.
A new review of close to 16 million people suggests the health stakes are far higher than that.
Adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder had a 70% higher risk of dying from any cause than people without the condition.
Also read: The first herpes drug with a new way of fighting the virus in nearly 30 years just got FDA approval
The review was published in JAMA Network Open by researchers at University College London and the University of Liverpool.
It pooled 19 long-term studies. Some tracked participants for more than 20 years.
Where the elevated risk comes from
The 70% figure stacks several causes together. The sharpest increase was in deaths by suicide, which were nearly double in people with ADHD compared with those without it.
Deaths from unintentional or intentional injuries were 55% more common.
Also read: Anxiety cases have surged nearly 50% since 2019: here is what is driving it
Deaths from natural causes, meaning illness rather than accidents or suicide, were 27% higher in people with ADHD.
That natural-cause category covers heart disease, metabolic conditions, diabetes, and cancer, which research has linked to ADHD at higher rates than average.
The heightened risk showed up in every category. "We found that people with ADHD face an increased risk not only of death by suicide and injury, but also of deaths by natural causes," said senior author Professor Joshua Stott from UCL.
Several factors likely feed into these numbers. Adults with ADHD tend to have more trouble with impulse control and emotional regulation.
Also read: A tool added to your doctor's software may lower your fall risk after 65
They also have higher rates of smoking and heavy drinking, and more difficulty staying on top of medical appointments and treatments.
Medication was linked to a 25% lower death rate
A smaller part of the analysis linked ADHD medication to a 25% lower risk of dying from any cause.
The comparison was between medicated and unmedicated people with ADHD, and it drew on only three of the included studies.
Lucy Corrigan, first author on the review, framed the medication link as a cautious signal.
Also read: New weekly insulin approved: People with type 2 diabetes could go from 365 injections a year to 52
"Our findings provide early evidence to suggest that medication may play an important role in supporting the health of people with ADHD," she said.
More research is needed before scientists can say the medication is actually causing the lower risk.
Other differences between those who take it and those who do not may also be in play.
Medication is just part of the picture. Many people with ADHD also benefit from behavioral therapy, workplace adjustments, and consistent routines that support sleep and daily life.
Also read: 9 foods and drinks that could be quietly triggering your gout flares
"ADHD is not by definition a life-limiting condition as the right support and treatment can help people with ADHD to live long and healthy lives," Stott said.
This article is made and published by Mie Hermansen, who may have used AI in the preparation.