ADHD Tied to 5 Health Risks in 22.5 Million Americans
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 14
ADHD Tied to 5 Health Risks in 22.5 Million Americans
2 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 14
Summary
Researchers say evidence is mounting that ADHD is linked not only to chronic pain but also to anxiety, disordered eating, migraines and long covid.
22.5 million Americans are estimated to have ADHD — about 15.5 million adults and 7 million children — making the overlap with other conditions a broad public-health concern.
A spring study in Scientific Reports found ADHD symptoms were twice as common among 958 adults with treatment-resistant, extremely severe chronic pain.
Researchers are examining possible biological links, including neuroinflammation, and whether ADHD traits may shape how people perceive and cope with pain and related conditions.
Is your chronic pain an overlooked symptom of adult ADHD?
Could ADHD medications become the next breakthrough treatment for chronic pain?
Are millions with fibromyalgia or long COVID suffering from misdiagnosed ADHD?
ADHD Symptoms Found in Up to 2.4x More Chronic Pain Patients: New Research Reveals Urgent Need for Integrated Diagnosis and Care
Overview
Recent research, highlighted by a major 2026 study led by Dr. Satoshi Kasahara, has uncovered a strong link between ADHD symptoms and chronic pain, especially in patients whose pain does not respond to standard treatments. The study found that people with persistent chronic pain are much more likely to show ADHD traits such as inattention and impulsivity. These ADHD symptoms are closely connected to the most severe pain levels, suggesting that emotional and cognitive challenges may make pain worse. This discovery points to the importance of screening for ADHD in pain clinics to improve diagnosis and treatment for those suffering from both conditions.