A decades-long UK cohort study following 10,930 people born in 1970 found that children who showed more attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) traits at age 10 had higher odds of multiple self-reported physical health conditions and physical health–related disability by age 46. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, suggests smoking, psychological distress and higher body mass index partly help explain the link, and highlights the need for better identification and support across adulthood.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed participants in the 1970 British Cohort Study, which has tracked people born in England, Scotland and Wales in a single week of 1970. Researchers included 10,930 participants in the main analyses, using a validated measure of ADHD traits at age 10 derived from parent and teacher behavior questionnaires, rather than requiring a formal clinical diagnosis.
By age 46, higher childhood ADHD trait scores were associated with having more physical health conditions, a higher likelihood of physical multimorbidity (defined as two or more co-occurring physical health conditions), and more physical health–related disability.
In the analysis, higher childhood ADHD traits were linked to 14% higher odds of reporting two or more physical conditions by age 46. The paper’s estimates suggest that about 42.1% of participants with a high likelihood of meeting ADHD criteria in childhood had multimorbidity by age 46, compared with about 37.5% of those without high ADHD traits. Examples of conditions mentioned in the report include migraine, back problems, cancer, epilepsy and diabetes.
The association between childhood ADHD traits and physical health–related disability appeared larger in women than in men. However, the study did not find sex differences in the associations with the number of physical conditions or with multimorbidity.
Researchers reported that several factors measured across adulthood partly accounted for the link between childhood ADHD traits and poorer midlife physical health outcomes, particularly smoking, psychological distress, and higher body mass index.
Senior author Professor Joshua Stott of UCL Psychology & Language Sciences said the findings add to evidence that people with ADHD may experience poorer health outcomes over their lives and argued that better-tailored support is needed, noting that ADHD can be underdiagnosed, including in midlife and older adults.
Lead author Dr. Amber John, who began the work at UCL and is now at the University of Liverpool, emphasized that people with ADHD vary widely and that many live long, healthy lives. She argued for better diagnosis and support, including making screening and ongoing monitoring more accessible for people with ADHD.
The authors and university briefing also pointed to prior research suggesting that people with ADHD may face more stressful events and social exclusion, and may be less likely to receive timely screening and care—factors that could contribute to long-term health outcomes. The study’s results add to calls for ADHD care and support to extend beyond childhood and schooling and across adult life.
