Wiznitzer says the new findings underscore the importance of treating ADHD in adults as well as children – not just with medications but also with behavioral therapy that teaches strategies to manage executive function problems that are a hallmark of the condition.

Edit: sorry not a meme but I think it is important to remember to take care of yourself and basics. Water 💧 Exercise 🏃 Food 🥘

Medication 💊 help but it is not the solution for behavioral change.

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[–] SharkEatingBreakfast@sopuli.xyz 41 points 7 hours ago

"People with handicaps and disabilities typically have shorter lifespans due to the lack of assistance and resources needed for their specific ailment. "

This is it, folks. ☝️

[–] fossphi@lemm.ee 7 points 6 hours ago

Finally, some motivation to get a diagnosis

[–] metaStatic@kbin.earth 84 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

so don't get diagnosed, got it.

[–] greenskye@lemm.ee 33 points 13 hours ago

This was my interpretation as well

[–] NaibofTabr@infosec.pub 38 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

Barkley's study found that the biggest predictors of shorter life expectancy in adults with ADHD were factors including lower incomes, fewer years of education, a greater likelihood of smoking, shorter sleep duration, less exercise, poorer nutrition and risky driving. He notes that most of these factors are linked to impulsivity — which can be treated.

"These factors – virtually all of them can be changed," Barkley says. "Change the factor [and] you change the life expectancy. So none of this is cast in stone."

[...]

"It's not the ADHD, it's the impact of the ADHD on how you live," says Wiznitzer, who is also co-chair of the professional advisory board for CHADD, a nonprofit education and advocacy group for people with ADHD. "Because you're impulsive, you don't make the best choices."

So basically... diet, exercise and regular sleep... the bad news is, it's advice you've heard all your life and you probably aren't following... the good news is that the science on this is pretty definite, and a lot of it is stuff you can do for free (well, no financial cost - it will cost you time though).

[–] flicker@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago) (1 children)

It's the driving that's going to get me.

I try very hard not to drive without medicine in me because I make the dumbest mistakes. There's a lot of damage to my car where I've backed into pollards and things, and every single dent was from a time I wasn't medicated.

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 7 hours ago

honestly i don't think there can be that much of a difference to just being in a car in general, just existing on the roads is one of the most dangerous things you can do.

[–] BaroqueInMind@lemmy.one 14 points 12 hours ago

But I'm so much more productive at night instead of sleeping.

Also...

Yeah, shit. You're right.

[–] ShareMySims@lemmy.dbzer0.com 31 points 13 hours ago (3 children)

This made me think of

In med school, I took an elective called "Stress", foolishly thinking I was going to learn about meditation and yoga. Instead the professor spent 6 weeks proving that being poor or a minority literally destroys your health on a molecular level, and I think about that every day.

Also, fuck trying to inflict ABA sort of bullshit on ADHD'rs as well as autists, it's ableist from the core and is all about making us "productive members" of ableist capitalist society, rather than happy well cared for individuals, and is a huge contributor to stress and feelings of inadequacy and of being burden.

Sure, coping strategies are good and important, but they should solely be to benefit the patient, not make the patient more beneficial (and acceptable) to others.

The more inclusive and accessible society is, the less stress marginalised people are exposed to for being "other".

[–] flicker@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Love your comment.

"We have to teach people with ADHD- who simply can't build habits the same way neurotypicals do- we have to teach them healthy habits!"

Eugh!

[–] ShareMySims@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 6 hours ago

Yes, exactly, thanks for summing it up so concisely!

[–] charade_you_are@sh.itjust.works 7 points 12 hours ago

My molecules are all fucked up from being poor

[–] koper@feddit.nl -3 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

How does living a longer life through better exercise and diet not "benefit the patient"?

[–] ShareMySims@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Where did I even mention exercise and diet?

[–] koper@feddit.nl 0 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago) (1 children)

Both the article and the OP mention it.

I understand your general point about ableism, I just don't see how that applies to this article. I don't read anything about "making the patient more beneficial to others".

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 0 points 4 hours ago

We live in a society

[–] iamericandre@lemmy.world 21 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Sick, let’s get this shit over with

[–] jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.works 1 points 6 hours ago

Mañana.

[–] totallynotaspy@fedia.io 10 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

The article is not all doom and gloom though!

He notes that most of these factors are linked to impulsivity — which can be treated. "These factors – virtually all of them can be changed," Barkley says. "Change the factor [and] you change the life expectancy. So none of this is cast in stone."

And later in the article a pediatric neurology professor underscores what most of us (hopefully) know; it takes a combo of medication AND therapy to get proper treatment (I feel for those still getting either of those sorted, it's rough out there).

[–] magikmw@lemm.ee 2 points 8 hours ago

The title is braindead. Getting a diagnosis, help and support is literally what can change the life expectancy.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 11 points 13 hours ago

Sick meme