Older autistic people need more help after years of misdiagnosis, review finds | Autism

Researchers have called for better support for people with middle ages and older after a review revealed that 90% of people over 50 in Great Britain are not diagnosed or poorly diagnosed.

A greater consciousness of autism and improved global assessments mean that it is generally identified in childhood today. But in recent decades, people with autistic people have often been forced to sail in the middle and old age without the support that a diagnosis can unlock.

The review on aging through the spectrum of autism revealed that the inhabitants of the United Kingdom have faced many difficulties in employment, the relationships and significant events such as menopause and retirement. They were still suffering from good mental and physical health.

“Children autistic people become adults autistic and we know that they are more likely to have higher rates of most of the physical and mental health problems,” said Dr. Gavin Stewart, co-driven of Re: Spec Lab at King’s College in London and the main author of the journal. “People often need a diagnosis or must recognize it in themselves, to be able to request appropriate help and support.”

As part of the journal, Stewart and Professor Francesca Happé, also at King’s, re-analyzed British health care files from 2018.

While world rates of autism have increased in recent decades – in 2022, an American out of 31 under the age of eight has proven to have the condition – the trend is widely attributed to a widening of the definition and improvements in diagnostics, rather than a real increase in the percentage of affected people.

The researchers then examined how many people who have been successful throughout life. The former had higher rates of a multitude of conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to cardiovascular and neurological disorders, they found.

Among the most disturbing results, there were higher rates of suicidal thoughts and self -harm in older autistic people, and a higher risk of early early dementia.

The average life expectancy was six years, autistic people living up to 75 years old, compared to 81 years for non-self-authorist people, but these figures could be biased by mediocre diagnostic rates. Details are published in the annual journal of development psychology.

“We must understand how aging has an impact on autistic people to better understand what type of help and tailor -made support from which they really benefit,” said Stewart. “These are all things that the [autism] The community must be consulted. »»

Autism varies from person to person, but doctors are looking for basic characteristics when evaluating people. These include differences in social communication and rigid and repetitive behavior.

Communication differences can lead people to become socially isolated. This, alongside the stigma with which many autistic people face, can increase the risk of mental and physical health problems. He can also make people who are more difficult to find people to approach for help and support.

According to the examination, older autistic people were more likely to meet challenges in the management of major life events such as the organization of residential care.

“If you go from nine to five to five all your professional life for suddenly no, it could have a real impact on you,” said Stewart. “And if you enter a care home where you are suddenly forced to situations that you would not generally feel at home, it has a big impact.”

He added: “If an autistic person has more difficulty throughout his life, when he reaches these points, he can be real breaking points. This is where support would be really beneficial.”

Tim Nicholls, at the National Autistic Society, said: “This research clearly shows what we already know and hear about each day – there are a high number of unmatched autistic adults and go through life without diagnosis has a major impact on many aspects of their life.

“Autism assessments can be the first step to understand people’s needs and diagnosis can change their lives and, in some cases, rescue. Autistic people and their families face a constant fight for support and far too often, it starts with long expectations for a diagnosis.

“The government must provide urgent funding for diagnostic services and ensure that autistic people and families get the support they need when they need it.”