Researchers at University College London and the University of Liverpool asked a straightforward question: do children with ADHD traits face worse physical health as adults? To answer it, they studied nearly 11,000 people born in 1970 in Britain, tracking them from childhood into their mid-40s.
When participants were 10 years old, their parents and teachers completed behaviour questionnaires to measure ADHD traits—such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The researchers then looked at what health problems these same people reported at age 46, regardless of whether they had ever received an official ADHD diagnosis.
Children with ADHD traits face higher rates of chronic illness later
The findings were striking. Among people who showed elevated ADHD traits at age 10, 42% reported having at least two physical health problems by age 46—such as migraine, back pain, cancer, epilepsy, or diabetes. In comparison, only 37% of those with lower ADHD trait scores reported multiple conditions. People with higher childhood ADHD traits had 14% higher odds of reporting two or more physical health problems in midlife.
The study also found that these individuals were more likely to experience physical health-related disability—meaning their health problems interfered with work and daily activities.
Why the gap widens: support and diagnosis matter
The researchers highlight an important cause: many people with ADHD do not receive adequate support as they grow up. Professor Joshua Stott, the study's senior author, noted that ADHD often goes undiagnosed, particularly in adults, and that tailored support services remain limited. This means that challenges with attention, time management, and impulse control—which are core to ADHD—may persist and compound over time, affecting schooling, work, and social wellbeing.
The study cannot prove that ADHD traits directly cause later health problems. However, it shows a strong link between childhood ADHD traits and midlife physical health, based on one of the largest and longest-running follow-ups ever conducted on this question. The research was published in JAMA Network Open.
What this means for early identification
- Recognise that ADHD traits identified in childhood warrant attention; children scoring higher on ADHD measures may benefit from early support to reduce long-term health risks.
- Seek consistent professional guidance if your child shows signs of inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity; timely diagnosis and tailored support can make a difference across the lifespan.