A recent study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry shows a significant impact on life expectancy among those with ADHD. That’s something that the research team says requires “urgent attention.”
The study shows that nearly 3 per cent of adults in the UK have attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder, most of whom are undiagnosed.
Those living with ADHD have poorer outcomes when it comes to education and employment and their physical and mental health tends to be worse than the general population.
Mortality data collected by researchers showed that life expectancy was reduced in diagnosed adults by close to 7 years in men and more than 8 years in women.
The research paper released this month says the reason why adults diagnosed with ADHD are living shorter lives is due to modifiable risk factors and unmet support and treatment needs.
Psychologist Dr. Janine Hubbard says the findings are alarming, but not surprising.
Hubbard says symptoms of ADHD can lead to poor outcomes when it comes to health and risk-taking.
“It’s all about seeking the dopamine hit, it’s all about getting that sensation-seeking good feeling,” Hubbard told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly. “So it means that individuals with ADHD are more likely to rely on junk food, or take-out.” She says rates of alcohol and substance use are also higher in people with ADHD.
Elements of ADHD like hyper-focus, can be a good thing in some cases says Hubbard, but it can also cause a person to lose track of time, meaning that they could go all day without eating, and then turn to poor nutritional but quick meal ideas just to satiate their hunger.