UCL study links ADHD to higher mortality across 19 studies
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
A UCL-led review of 19 studies covering close to 16 million people linked ADHD to higher mortality rates.
The finding could reshape how diagnosis and treatment are prioritized.
Background
ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is the condition examined in a UCL-led systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open. The study pooled 19 studies with close to 16 million participants across three continents. It follows earlier work by the same authors finding people with ADHD have reduced life expectancies and higher rates of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Senior author Professor Joshua Stott, of UCL Psychology and Language Sciences, said ADHD is not by definition a life-limiting condition because the right support and treatment can help.
How it unfolded
- Oct 19, 2026UCL published a study in JAMA Network Open, a review of 19 studies with close to 16 million participants, linking ADHD to higher mortality rates.
- Oct 19, 2026UCL also published a student safety guide and co-hosted an education leadership conference with The British School New Delhi.
- Oct 20, 2026A report by Electrical Safety First produced with UCL concluded demand from gig economy workers for cheap equipment drives battery fire danger.
Who’s saying what
- Expert
- Senior author Professor Joshua Stott said people with ADHD face increased risk of death by suicide, injury and natural causes, but ADHD is not by definition life-limiting as the right support and treatment can help.
- Caution
- First author Lucy Corrigan of the University of Liverpool said the medication finding is early evidence based on a small number of studies and further research is needed.
- Analysts
- Professor Stott said diagnosis rates have risen but may still lag behind actual prevalence, particularly for older age groups.
Still unverified
The finding that people with ADHD who take medication appeared to have a 25% lower mortality risk was based on only three of the 19 included studies, and the researchers caution further research is needed to clarify the link.