Aging With Autism: Health and Social Barriers Revealed

Research shows autistic adults face greater health risks and social challenges as they age.

About 89 to 97 percent of autistic adults aged 40+ years are undiagnosed in the UK!

Says a review study conducted at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College London.

Just 0.4% of studies on autism since 1980 have examined individuals in their midlife or later years, even though research on aging in autistic communities has increased almost fourfold since 2012. To see if autistic people age differently from the general population, the researchers reviewed current literature and conducted a narrative analysis ().

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TOP INSIGHT

Did You Know?
Autistic adults are up to six times more likely to have suicidal thoughts and 4x more likely to develop early dementia. #autism #medindia

Higher Numbers Are Underdiagnosed

Autism does not "grow out" of people; however, the rates of diagnosis vary greatly between younger and older generations. In their reanalysis of earlier studies using 2018 UK healthcare record data, the study's investigators discovered that 98% of those between the ages of 40 and 59 and 97% of those over 60 were considered to be undiagnosed.

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Health Issues With Autism

Research indicates that compared to individuals without autism, middle-aged and older autistic persons have a greater incidence of practically every physical and mental health problem. These include immune diseases, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, anxiety, depression, as well as aging-related issues, including osteoporosis, arthritis, Parkinson's disease, and cognitive decline.

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Autistic Statistics

Older adults with autistic traits are six times more likely to experience thoughts of self-harming and even suicide.
They are four times more likely to experience early-onset dementia compared to non-autistic people.
Despite a six-year difference in average life expectancy, autistic people lived to an average age of 75, while non-autistic people lived to an average age of 81.

The numbers may also vary, as many remain underdiagnosed.

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Not Just Health, But Social Barriers Too!

According to the assessment, individuals with autism face obstacles when trying to get healthcare services through systems that aren't built for them. These barriers included aspects associated with autistic traits, such as communication differences and sensory sensitivities, as well as concerns about continuity of care, uncertainty about which services to access, and limited clinician understanding of autism in adulthood.

Aside from the health consequences, there were negative effects on relationships, quality of life, and employment prior to retirement. Adults with autism have significant rates of social isolation, and research suggests that they can have a higher quality of life with better social support.

Understanding the needs of autistic people as they age is becoming a global public health concern; we must adopt a lifelong approach with tailored healthcare and expanded social support so that aging autistic people can live their lives in harmony and health!

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