ADHD: Is Diagnosis and Treatment a Matter of Life or Death?
At first glance, this may seem like an overly dramatic headline. Clickbait, almost. But the reality is that these words hide a shocking and, ultimately, very important truth.
In January 2025, The Guardian reported a confronting headline:
Adults diagnosed with ADHD may have significantly shorter life expectancies.
It’s the sort of story that makes you stop scrolling. Not because it’s shocking if you live with ADHD, but because it finally reflects a truth that so many of us already know. ADHD doesn’t just affect how people concentrate or organise their day. Left untreated, it affects how they live and sometimes whether they live.
The Study That Made Headlines
The article refers to a major new UK study that examined 9 million health records over 19 years. The study looked at records for 30,039 adults with a diagnosis of ADHD and compared them with 300,390 participants without, but who were similar in terms of age and sex.
The results are shocking to anyone living with the symptoms of undiagnosed ADHD; adults with diagnosed ADHD live significantly shorter lives, on average; men lose about 6.8 years and women 8.6 years, compared to peers without ADHD. This isn’t because ADHD itself is fatal, but it’s often the unmanaged and unsupported effects: undiagnosed conditions, lack of support, and higher rates of risky behaviours and poor health.
The Real Risks of Being Undiagnosed
ADHD often gets reduced to a punchline: the forgetful friend, the messy desk, the constant chatter. But what it really does is impair self-regulation of time, risk, emotion, habits, and sometimes survival.
If you’ve lived it, you’ll know what this looks like:
Risky behaviour that you can’t explain
Substance use that starts as “coping” and becomes compulsive
The emotional intensity that wears out relationships
Dangerous driving, unsafe sex, or impulsive spending
Cycles of burnout that lead to depression or suicidal thoughts
The inability to maintain healthy habits, like exercise or diet
It’s hard to say all that out loud. But these are the lived realities for many with ADHD, particularly those still chasing a diagnosis in adulthood.
The Diagnostic Gap Is Deadly
In the UK, adult ADHD services are overstretched. Waiting lists stretch years, and private assessments aren’t financially viable for many. And there’s still a stigma that ADHD is a childhood condition or that adults seeking diagnosis are just “excuse-making” or “pill-chasing.”
All the while, people are falling through the cracks, not because they’re weak or unwilling, but because their brains are wired differently and they’ve been unsupported for decades.
The science and the collective narrative may be catching up, but the system isn’t.
Treatment Isn’t Just About Medication
A diagnosis changes lives not just by giving you a label but by helping you understand your own behaviour. Treatment, whether that’s medication, therapy, structure, or support, isn’t about becoming neurotypical. It’s about staying safe, reducing harm, and living longer with a better quality of life.
A correct diagnosis can lead to:
Better self-awareness and emotional regulation
More stability in work, relationships, and sleep
There is less risk of accidents, addiction, and crisis moments
Greater motivation to prioritise physical and mental health
A very personal note
One clear example of the impact that ADHD can have on people is heart disease. Already one of the world's biggest killers, rates of cardiovascular disease and associated premature death are shown to be significantly increased in people with ADHD.
Speaking personally, when I was 45, and long before I could explain my symptoms, behaviours, and mental health misdiagnoses, I survived a major heart attack. I can’t say ADHD caused it. But I can say that decades of internal stress, constant overcompensation, poor sleep, poor habits, and relentless masking took their toll.
If I’d known earlier, if I’d been diagnosed earlier, maybe I’d have lived those years with a bit more peace, a bit less panic. Maybe I’d have caught the burnout before it caught me. So is the headline of this blog alarmist, OTT perhaps? I think not, not at all. Understanding your ADHD might just allow you to live both longer and happier.
And that’s why this blog exists. Ultimately, that’s why NeuroFX exists.
If this helped you make sense of your experience, maybe it’s time to take the next step.
At NeuroFX, we specialise in understanding parts of you or your child that might have been misunderstood or misdiagnosed for years. We offer thorough, evidence-based assessments for ADHD and autism (ASD) in both adults and children, with a clear, supportive process from screening to diagnosis and treatment where needed.
Whether you’re exploring a diagnosis for yourself, your child, or someone close to you, it starts with a conversation.
You can begin with our free online screening tools, or if you already feel ready, you’re welcome to book a full assessment directly.
We’re here when you’re ready.
