ADHD Life Expectancy Study Shows Increased Risk of Early Death

February 17, 2022

People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face higher mortality risks than does the general population, according to a new meta-analysis published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.¹ The study found that death in childhood or midlife from natural or unnatural causes was twice as likely for people with ADHD or autism, compared to the general population.

The systematic review and meta-analysis examined 27 studies published between 1988 and 2021, including data on more than 642,000 participants from North America and Europe. When causes of death were examined, ADHD and ASD were associated with higher mortality due to unnatural causes such as injury, poisoning, or suicide. Only people with ASD experienced reduced life expectancy due to natural causes of death.

“Most of the ADHD-related factors impacting life expectancy — impulsivity, risky behavior, and inattention, to name a few — are changeable,” says Russell Barkley, Ph.D., who lead a 2019 ADDitude webinar titled “How ADHD Shortens Life Expectancy.” “Behavioral programs designed to improve overall health will improve life expectancy as well, but only if ADHD symptoms are under control first. And that requires more accurate diagnosis and more thoughtful treatment.”²

Understanding the mechanisms of these associations may lead to targeted strategies to prevent avoidable deaths in high-risk groups of children and young people, the researchers suggest. Needed are future studies examining mortality-related health estimates in persons with ASD or ADHD that further explore distinct populations such as girls, people of color, and patients with additional comorbidities.

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