ADHD reduces life expectancy? Here’s how it affects men and women differently

Because ADHD diagnoses are still growing in the USA, scientists have discovered a disturbing relationship between behavioral disorder and a reduced life expectancy, while the impact differs between men and women.

The hyperactivity syndrome with a attention deficit (ADHD) is one of the most common neurode development disorders affecting children. This condition can affect various aspects of life, including academic results, professional achievements, interpersonal relationships and daily functioning.

Large -scale test Published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, scientists analyzed data from over 300,000 participants with ADHD, comparing them with a similar group without a condition for understanding its impact on longevity. The discoveries revealed that men from ADHD had a limitation of life expectancy by 4.5 to 9 years while women faced a reduction of 6.5 to 11 years.

“It is very disturbing that some adults with the diagnosed ADHD live a shorter life than they should. People with ADHD have many strengths and can develop with adequate support and treatment. They often lack support and more often experience stressful life events and social exclusion, negatively affecting their health and self-esteem, “said the elderly author, Professor Josh Stott in press release.

Scientists also noticed that only a fraction of the total adult population with ADHD was diagnosed, because less than one in nine adults with ADHD was diagnosed.

“We know from the research of features in the community and research on childhood diagnosis that the ADHD indicator in our sample is only a fraction of what should be,” added Professor Stott.

Because this condition is often unrecognized, especially in adults, new studies can overestimate the reduction of life expectancy in people with this condition. Research results may not be generalized to other geographies or settings, scientists warn. In addition, because the study did not assess data on specific causes of death, you cannot directly assign years of lost life to other factors.

However, scientists have noticed that early deaths in patients with ADHD may be “caused by modified risk factors and unsatisfied needs for support and treatment both in terms of ADHD and co -occurring mental and physical health states.”