Living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can exact a heavy toll on people’s health and longevity. Research out this week, however, shows that timely ADHD treatment may claw back some of those years.

Scientists at the University of Liverpool in the UK and others examined the medical literature on ADHD. They found that having ADHD was associated with higher mortality rates, but that people taking ADHD medication were less likely to die early than those who went untreated. Though more research is warranted to quantify the benefits of medications and other treatments for ADHD, this study is the latest to illustrate the long-term health impacts of the condition, the researchers say.

“These results reinforce the importance of targeted intervention and access to diagnosis and treatment for ADHD individuals across the lifespan,” the authors wrote in their paper, published Monday in JAMA Network Open.

ADHD is a complex condition characterized by symptoms like restlessness, impulsiveness, and having trouble staying focused, especially on everyday tasks. Though these symptoms may first appear in childhood, many people are only diagnosed as adults or never diagnosed at all.

Studies have consistently found that people with diagnosed ADHD can face a higher risk of other health issues, such as not getting enough good sleep and substance use problems, and they seem more likely to experience stressful life events like prolonged unemployment. In recent years, research has also started to show people with ADHD are more likely to die early and to have shorter lifespans than those without it.

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