Because of impulsive and lack of control of personal behavior, ADHD has an impact on life expectancy. The reduced regard for future consequences has an impact on health conscious behaviors such as exercise, proper diet, moderation in use of caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol, and use of illegal substances. Concern over life expectancy and ADHD is fairly well founded.

Swensen in a 2004 study found that individuals with ADHD are twice as likely to die prematurely from their misadventures as their people without ADHD. Although longevity studies have not been done on identified children with ADHD, most of whom are now in their 40s, Friedman et al. (1995) did a follow-up of Terman's study of highly intelligent children when they were in their 70s. Friedman found that half of the ''Termites'' had died, and that impulsive, under-controlled personality characteristics were the most significant childhood personality traits predictive of reduced life expectancy by all causes. Individuals who had this set of characteristics lived an average of 8 years less than those who did not.

The following relationships between ADHD indicate a reduced life expectancy:

- Accident proneness in childhood

- Speeding and auto accidents in adolescence and young adulthood

- Crime

- Suicide attempts

- Use of and abuse of substances, primarily tobacco and alcohol

- A general pattern of risk taking.

Bibliography:

1) Swensen, A. R. et al. 2004.. Incidents and costs of accidents among attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder patients. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 42:21415-1423.

2) Friedman, H. S. et al. 1995. Psychosocial and behavioral predictors of longevity: The aging and death of the ''Termites.'' American Psychologist 50:69-313.

Free term papers are not written to satisfy your specific instructions. You can use our professional writing services to buy a custom written research paper, term paper, or essay on ADHD at affordable price. CustomTermPapers is the best solution for those who seek help in writing term papers, essays, and research papers related to ADHD and other relevant topics.