Childhood ADHD linked to midlife physical health problems

Researchers from University College London (UCL) and the University of Liverpool have found increased odds of physical health problems at the age of 10 years among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), publishing their findings in JAMA Network Open.¹

This is one of the largest studies to evaluate ADHD trends and health outcomes in children. According to investigators, the data likely reflects a wider range of risk factors for poor health associated with ADHD.

“People with ADHD can thrive with the right support, but this is often lacking, both due to a shortage of tailored support services but also because ADHD remains underdiagnosed, particularly in people in midlife and older, with needs unaddressed,” said Joshua Stott, PhD, professor of psychology & language sciences at UCL.

Assessment of childhood ADHD traits and physical outcomes

The study was conducted to evaluate links between childhood ADHD traits and midlife physical health outcomes.² Data was obtained from the 1970 British Cohort Study, with patients including individuals born during the first week of 1970 in England, Scotland, or Wales.

ADHD traits were determined using child behavior questionnaires completed by parents and teachers in 1980. There were 14 items assessing ADHD traits, with 9 related to hyperactivity and 5 to inattention. These items were mapped to ADHD symptoms in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition).

Participants self-reported physical health problems while aged 26 to 46 years. These outcomes were reported as binary variables and included asthma or bronchitis, back problems, migraine, epilepsy or seizure, leukemia or cancer, bladder or kidney problems, and stomach, bowel, or gallbladder problems.

Physical multimorbidity was reported as the primary outcome, determined by participants reporting 2 or more health conditions by the age of 46 years. The age when conditions were first reported was also measured.

Secondary outcomes included the number of health problems and physical health-related disabilities. Smoking, psychological distress, alcohol use, high body mass index (BMI), and low educational attainment were considered health risk. Investigators also collected data about patient sex, ethnicity, and social class at 10 years.

Associations between ADHD traits and multimorbidity

There were 10,930 patients aged 46 years at the latest follow-up included in the analysis, 49% of whom were men, 51% women, 96.8% White, and 3.2% of an ethnic minority group. Among these patients, an association was identified between ADHD traits and greater odds of physical multimorbidity by age 46 years, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.14.

The odds of multimorbidity by the age of 46 years were 42.1% among those with high ADHD traits, vs 37.5% among those without high ADHD traits. Associations between ADHD and an increased number of health problems and greater physical health–related disability at the age of 46 years were also reported.

A hazard ratio of 1.12 was reported for multimorbidity by the age of 46 years among patients with ADHD traits. An OR of 1.03 indicated no significant associations for childhood ADHD traits and sex with multimorbidity. However, larger effect sizes for the link between ADHD traits and physical disability were reported in women vs men.

ADHD was indirectly linked to multimorbidity through smoking, BMI, and psychological distress. Additionally, direct links for ADHD with disability were reported through these 3 factors.

Implications

Increased alcohol use and lower educational attainment were also reported among patients with ADHD traits, but these were not linked to multimorbidity or physical disability. Overall, the data highlighted increased odds of worse physical health outcomes in midlife among patients with ADHD traits during childhood.

“The findings highlight the importance of life course approaches to understanding long-term health problems in people with ADHD,” wrote investigators.

References

1. Childhood ADHD linked to midlife physical health problems. University College London. January 21, 2026. Accessed January 26, 2026. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1113157
2. Stott J, O’Nions E, Corrigan L, et al. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Traits in Childhood and Physical Health in Midlife. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(1):e2554802. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.54802