ADHD Linked to 71% Higher Early Death Risk, but Medication May Offer Protection, Major Review Finds

People diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) face a roughly 71% higher overall risk of early death compared with those without the condition, according to a new review published in JAMA Network Open. In an encouraging finding, however, researchers also found signs that taking prescription ADHD medication may offer a protective benefit, lowering the overall risk of death.

The researchers analyzed data from 19 observational studies involving nearly 16 million people across three continents, in an effort to evaluate the long-term effects associated with the condition.

The review considered both unnatural causes of death, such as injuries and suicide, and natural causes, including physical health conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Across all categories, individuals with ADHD experienced elevated mortality rates compared with those without the diagnosis.

The most alarming picture concerned suicide, where the risk of death was nearly doubled, showing an 89% increase. The risk of dying from intentional or unintentional injuries, such as motor vehicle accidents, was 55% higher, while the risk of death from natural causes was 27% higher.

'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, adding to evidence that health inequalities faced by people with ADHD are broad and wide-ranging,' senior author Joshua Stott, professor of aging and clinical psychology at University College London, said in a press release.

According to the researchers, the increased risk of death from natural causes was often tied to long-term health risks like smoking and substance use, as well as executive function challenges that can make it harder to manage chronic conditions, attend doctor's appointments and follow treatment plans.

In one analysis, researchers checked whether medical treatment changed overall mortality rates. Among people with ADHD, those taking prescribed medication had a 25% lower risk of death from any cause compared with those not taking medication, suggesting that effective treatment may lower some of the behavioral effects and health risks associated with the condition.

'ADHD is not by definition a life-limiting condition, as the right support and treatment can help people live long and healthy lives,' Stott said. 'Our findings underscore the importance of ensuring that everyone who may have ADHD has access to accurate diagnosis and treatment.'

Despite these findings, the researchers emphasized several key limitations. All the included studies were observational, meaning the results show associations rather than direct cause-and-effect relationships. The findings on ADHD medication came from just three of the 19 studies, so those results are still preliminary and based on a much smaller group of people.

Results also varied widely across individual studies due to differences in diagnostic criteria, healthcare access and tracking methods, while underlying factors such as socioeconomic status and other mental health conditions were not controlled across the data sets.

'Our findings provide early evidence to suggest that medication may play an important role in supporting the health of people with ADHD, but this is based on a small number of studies and further research is needed to clarify this link,' first author Lucy Corrigan, a research assistant in the University of Liverpool's Department of Psychology, said in the same press release. 'Medication is just part of the story; many people with ADHD benefit from comprehensive, long-term treatment and support,' she added.

Dr Elizabeth Landsverk, a geriatric medicine and dementia expert with over 20 years of experience treating patients with Alzheimer's and cognitive decline, noted that people with ADHD can have more difficulty with organization, which could be one factor contributing to the higher risk of cognitive impairment. Overall, the study urges that ADHD be viewed not merely as a problem of attention, but as a question of whole-body health.