ADHD linked to markedly higher mortality, but medication may cut risk

A systematic review published in JAMA Network Open analyzed data from 19 observational studies involving almost 16 million people on three continents, revealing that an ADHD diagnosis is associated with a roughly 71% higher overall risk of premature death. The heightened mortality includes an 89% increase in suicide, a 55% rise in deaths from injuries, and a 27% rise in natural-cause deaths, often linked to long-term health behaviors and executive-function challenges.

Among the subset of studies that examined medication, individuals taking prescribed ADHD drugs showed a 25% lower risk of death from any cause. Senior author Joshua Stott highlighted that ADHD is not inherently life-limiting if proper support is provided, while first author Lucy Corrigan noted the medication result is preliminary, based on a small number of studies. The authors underline limitations such as the observational nature of the data, variability in diagnostic criteria, and lack of control for socioeconomic and comorbid factors, calling for further research and better access to diagnosis and treatment.