Adults and children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) face a roughly 71% higher overall risk of premature death compared to those without the condition, according to a major new scientific review. However, researchers found that taking prescription ADHD medication may offer a significant protective benefit.
The systematic review and meta-analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, was led by researchers at University College London and the University of Liverpool. Scientists analyzed observational data from 19 cohort investigations involving nearly 16 million people across three continents to evaluate the long-term health outcomes associated with the condition.
Understanding the Mortality Risks Linked to ADHD
The study examined both natural and unnatural causes of death. Across all pooled data, individuals with an ADHD diagnosis experienced elevated mortality rates. The risk of death by suicide showed the steepest increase, nearly doubling with an 89% to 90% rise compared to the general population.
Additionally, the risk of dying from intentional or unintentional injuries—such as motor vehicle accidents—was 55% higher among people with ADHD. Natural causes of death, including physical health conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes, showed a 27% increase in risk.
Researchers noted that the findings underscore the necessity of sustained, lifelong support systems for individuals living with the disorder, ensuring proper diagnosis and consistent medical care.
Can Medication Lower the ADHD Early Death Rate?
Despite the sobering mortality statistics, the analysis highlighted an encouraging signal regarding treatment. Among individuals with ADHD, those who took prescription medication appeared to have a roughly 25% lower risk of dying during the study periods compared to those who went untreated.
First author Lucy Corrigan, a research assistant in the University of Liverpool’s Department of Psychology, emphasized that these findings offer early evidence that pharmaceutical treatment may play a vital role in supporting overall health. However, researchers cautioned that the findings regarding medication were drawn from just three of the 19 reviewed studies, involving a much smaller cohort.
Because of this limited subset, scientists stressed that the association should not yet be definitively assumed to be a direct causal protective effect. Past scientific literature has presented conflicting evidence concerning long-term mortality benefits, with some studies highlighting reduced suicidal behaviors and other risk factors, while others have debated potential cardiovascular impacts from certain stimulant and non-stimulant drugs.
Study authors emphasized that further investigation is required to fully quantify the long-term benefits of medications and other treatments. Future research is also needed to control for underlying variables such as socioeconomic status, healthcare access, diagnostic criteria differences, and how gender, race, ethnicity, or childhood experiences might influence mortality rates.
