ADD Days to Your Life and Life to Your Days
- Cheryl Gigler
- 8 hours ago
- 2 min read
I was riding along listening to a song by Doyle Lawson and Quick Silver called, “Life to My Days.” It got me thinking about the CHADD International Conference I’d attended in St. Louis and the excellent presentation I heard by Russell Barkley, PhD on the subject of ADHD and longevity.
ADHD Research on Life Span
Barkley authored a 2019 study that found that children with ADHD, who were followed into adulthood, had a shorter life expectancy of about 8.4 years, as well as more years of unhealthy living.
The biggest predictors of a shorter life span in adults with ADHD were factors including:
Lower incomes
Less education
A greater likelihood of smoking
Shorter sleep duration
Less exercise
Poorer nutrition
Risky driving
Most of these factors Barkley stated were linked to hyperactivity, which is one of the presentations of ADHD along with impulsivity and inattention.
Barkley goes on to say that by making changes to address hyperactivity, you can change your life expectancy.
“It’s not the ADHD, it’s the impact of the ADHD on how you live.”
- Max Wiznitzer, CHADD Advisory Board
A large and newer study in the British Journal of Psychiatry found that men diagnosed with ADHD were dying 7 years younger compared to their counterparts without a diagnosis of ADHD. Women with ADHD lived an average of about 9 years less.
“It is deeply concerning that some adults with ADHD are living shorter lives than they should.”
- Josh Stott
ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a developmental disorder whose hallmarks include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Why ADHD Treatment and Management Matter
While sobering, these findings are also validating. It explains why daily life with ADHD can be challenging!
Have you ever tried to lose weight or exercise for the 100th time in your life? You may struggle with sleep, staying up late to play catch up. Planning and organizing doesn’t come easily and impacts every area of life such as meal planning or doing laundry. It might be hard to get out the door, so we rush to work with a lead foot.
Have you ever wondered why you are successful in some areas of life only to struggle in others?
Reach Out For Support
The demands and fast pace of modern life can be challenging! It is easy to put ourselves and our own needs last. Reaching out for support is essential. Creating routines and structures can go a long way in helping us get on top of the day.
We CAN improve in any area of our life, but we might need to put a few more supports in place than the neuro-typical person.
Who knows how long any of us may live, but with the right supports in place, we can enjoy a longer and greater quality of life. Let’s add days to our lives as well as life to our days!
Interested in improving your quality of life? Call today for your free consultation with a coach who has experience living with ADHD!
Resources
“Adults with ADHD live shorter lives than those without a diagnosis, a new study finds”- Maria Godoy, www.wusf.org