New study suggesting people with ADHD have shorter lifespans should be ‘call to arms,’ lead author says [Video]

People diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are living shorter lives than they should, say the authors of a new British study, who stress that much of the known link between the disorder and premature death is closely related to the availability of education and support services.

Psychiatrists say it’s long been known that people diagnosed with ADHD tend not to live as long as those without the disorder. Now, researchers digging into mortality data in the U.K. have found that on average, men with ADHD faced a reduced life expectancy of around seven years, while women faced a reduction in life expectancy of about nine years.

Worldwide, about two per cent to five per cent of adults experience ADHD symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

WATCH | People with ADHD live shorter lives, U.K. study finds: A new study from the U.K. suggests that people diagnosed with ADHD have shorter lifespans, in part because of health issues …