ADHD Linked to Higher Rates of Gastrointestinal Problems

A major review of 23 studies found that people with ADHD had almost 50% more gastrointestinal symptoms than people without ADHD.

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A new systematic review and meta-analysis has found a notable association between ADHD and gastrointestinal problems. Researchers analyzed data from more than 1.9 million people across 23 studies and found that people with ADHD had almost 50% higher odds of overall gastrointestinal symptoms than people without ADHD. The association was stronger for some specific problems, including constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and loss of bowel control. The review included studies involving people from childhood through adulthood and was published in the Journal of Attention Disorders in September 2026. The findings add to growing interest in the gut-brain connection, but they do not prove that ADHD directly causes digestive problems or establish a single biological explanation. Researchers and clinicians still need to determine how much of the association may involve factors such as diet, stress, medication, health care use, or shared biological pathways. The study is therefore better understood as evidence of a relationship that deserves further investigation rather than proof of a direct cause.

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