General health of adults with autism spectrum disorders – A whole country population cross-sectional study

Rydzewska, Ewelina; Hughes-McCormack, Laura Anne; Gillberg, Christopher; Henderson, Angela; MacIntyre, Cecilia; Rintoul, Julie; Cooper, Sally‐Ann

doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2019.01.004

Cited by 31 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…No significant differences in diagnosis rates were observed between high and low autistic trait groups across most physical diagnoses, including cardiovascular, metabolic, or endocrine conditions. Furthermore, no group differences were observed in total number of co-occurring Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology/advance-article/doi/10.1093/geronb/gbaa112/5881354 by Goldsmiths College user on 11 August 2020 A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t physical conditionsalthough this did correlate positively with age in both groups, as would be expected (Bishop-Fitzpatrick & Rubenstein, 2019;Croen et al, 2015;Rydzewska et al, 2019). To the authors" knowledge, no other studies have collectively explored the prevalence rates of physical conditions among those with elevated autistic traits of any age range.…”

Section: Table 4 / Physical Health Conditions Table Here Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

“…Several clinical and population-based studies have documented that autistic children and adults experience increased rates of almost all mental health difficulties when compared to neurotypical individuals (Bishop-Fitzpatrick & Rubenstein, 2019;Croen et al, 2015;Hand, Angell, Harris, & Carpenter, 2019;Lever & Geurts, 2016;Lugo-Marín et al, 2019;Rydzewska et al, 2019;Simonoff et al, 2008). An association has also been reported between elevated (but subclinical) autistic traits and mental health problems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite this, few studies have explored the physical and mental health profile of autistic populations in older adulthood (Happé & Charlton, 2011;Howlin & Taylor, 2015;Mukaetova-Ladinska, Perry, Baron, & Povey, 2012;Stuart-Hamilton et al, 2010). The few studies exploring health in older autistic adults suggest that rates of physical (but not mental) conditions and general health difficulties increase in older age (Croen et al, 2015;Hand et al, 2019;Rydzewska et al, 2019). The Scottish epidemiological study (Rydzewska et al, 2019(Rydzewska et al, , 2018 found double the rate of physical disability in autistic males and females aged 65 years or older (42% and 48% respectively), compared to those in the 25-35 years age bracket (14% and 25%).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The few studies exploring health in older autistic adults suggest that rates of physical (but not mental) conditions and general health difficulties increase in older age (Croen et al, 2015;Hand et al, 2019;Rydzewska et al, 2019). The Scottish epidemiological study (Rydzewska et al, 2019(Rydzewska et al, , 2018 found double the rate of physical disability in autistic males and females aged 65 years or older (42% and 48% respectively), compared to those in the 25-35 years age bracket (14% and 25%). Rates in both age groups were far higher for autistic than non-autistic adults (c. 1.6% at 25-35 years, 20% for 65+), although the change with age was proportionally larger in the non-autistic group.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Mental and Physical Health Profiles of Older Adults Who Endorse Elevated Autistic Traits

Stewart

Corbett

Ballard

et al. 2020

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B

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Objective The mental and physical health profile of autistic people has been studied in adolescence and adulthood, with elevated rates of most conditions being reported. However, this has been little studied taking a dimensional approach to autistic traits, and in older age. Methods A total of 20,220 adults aged 50-81 years from the PROTECT study reported whether they experienced persistent socio-communicative traits characteristic of autism. Approximately 1%, 276 individuals, were identified as endorsing elevated autistic traits in childhood and currently, henceforth the ‘Autism Spectrum Trait’ (AST) group. An age and gender matched comparison group was formed of 10,495 individuals who did not endorse any autistic behavioral traits, henceforth the ‘Control Older Adults’ (COA) group. Differences between AST and COA groups were explored in self-reported psychiatric diagnoses, self-reported symptoms of current depression and anxiety, and self-reported physical health diagnoses. Associations were also examined between autistic traits and health across the whole sample. Results The AST group reported significantly elevated rates of psychiatric diagnoses compared to COAs. Additionally, the AST group showed significantly higher self-reported symptoms of current depression and anxiety than COAs. However, few differences were observed in individual physical health conditions, and no differences in total co-occurring physical diagnoses between groups. Similar associations between autistic traits and health were also found taking a dimensional approach across the whole sample. Discussion These findings suggest that older adults with elevated autistic traits may be at greater risk of poorer mental, but not physical, health in later life. Future studies should incorporate polygenic scores to elucidate the possible genetic links between propensity to autism/high autistic traits and to psychiatric conditions, and to explore whether those with elevated autistic traits experience particular barriers to mental health care.

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Section: Table 4 / Physical Health Conditions Table Here Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The Mental and Physical Health Profiles of Older Adults Who Endorse Elevated Autistic Traits

Stewart

Corbett

Ballard

et al. 2020

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B

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“…Comparing autistic girls/women to autistic boys/men The majority of studies described prevalence rates for a wide range of physical health conditions in autistic people ( Table 1). Out of these, several studies reported prevalence of physical health conditions in autism by sex, comparing autistic girls/women directly to autistic boys/men [18][19][20][21]. Autistic girls/women have higher odds than autistic boys/men for six disorder categories derived from census data, including three relevant to physical health: deafness, blindness, and physical disability [19,20].…”

Section: Autistic Girls/women May Experience More Overall Physical Hementioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Health of Autistic Girls and Women: A Scoping Review

Kassee

Babinski

Tint

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: There is a growing recognition of sex and gender influences in autism. Increasingly, studies include comparisons between sexes or genders, but few have focused on clarifying the characteristics of autistic girls' and women's physical health. Methods: A scoping review was conducted to determine what is currently known about the physical health of autistic girls and women. We screened 1,112 unique articles, with 40 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. We used a convergent iterative process to synthesize this content into broad thematic areas. Results: Overall, autistic girls and women experience more physical health challenges compared to non-autistic girls and women, and to autistic boys and men. Preliminary evidence suggests increased neurological conditions (e.g., epilepsy) in autistic girls and women compared to autistic boys and men. As well, the literature suggests increased endocrine/reproductive conditions in autistic girls and women compared to non-autistic girls and women. Limitations: The literature has substantial heterogeneity in how physical health conditions were assessed and reported. Further, our explicit focus on physical health may have constrained the ability to examine potential interactions between mental and physical health. In addition, the widely differing research aims and methodologies make it difficult to reach definitive conclusions. Nevertheless, in keeping with the goals of a scoping review, we were able to identify key themes to guide future research. Conclusions: Emerging themes in the literature suggest that autistic girls and women have heightened rates of physical health challenges compared to autistic boys and men, and non-autistic girls and women. Clinicians should seek to provide holistic care for this population that includes a focus on physical health and recognizes that autistic girls and women have co-occurring conditions that differ from those of autistic boys and men.

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The Mental and Physical Health of Older Adults With a Genetic Predisposition for Autism

et al. 2020

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Autism commonly aggregates in families, with twin studies estimating heritability to be around 80%. Subclinical autism-like characteristics have also been found at elevated rates in relatives of autistic probands. Physical and psychiatric conditions have been reported at elevated rates in autistic children and adults, and also in their relatives. However, to date, there has been no exploration of how aging may affect this pattern. This study examined cross-sectional data from the ongoing online PROTECT study. A total of 20,220 adults aged 50 years and older reported whether they have an autistic first-degree relative. In total, 739 older adults reported having an autistic first-degree relative (AFDR group) and 11,666 were identified as having no family history of any neurodevelopmental disorder (NFD group). The AFDR group demonstrated significantly higher frequencies of self-reported psychiatric diagnoses and a greater total number of co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses than the NFD group. Furthermore, the AFDR group reported elevated current self-report symptoms of depression, anxiety, traumatic experience, and post-traumatic stress than the NFD group. By contrast, few differences between AFDR and NFD groups were observed in physical health conditions, and no differences were observed in the total number of co-occurring physical health diagnoses. These findings suggest that adults who have an AFDR may be at greater risk of poor mental, but not physical, health in later life. Older adults with autistic relatives may benefit from close monitoring to mitigate this susceptibility and to provide timely intervention. Autism Res 2020, 13: 641-654.Lay Summary: Children and adults with an autistic relative have been found to experience more psychiatric difficulties than those with no family links to autism. However, a few studies have explored what happens when these individuals get older. Examining over 20,000 adults age 50+, we found that older adults with an autistic relative experienced elevated rates of most psychiatric conditions but not physical conditions. Older adults with autistic relatives may benefit from close monitoring to mitigate this susceptibility and to provide timely intervention.These two authors are co-principal investigators.

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General health of adults with autism spectrum disorders – A whole country population cross-sectional study

Abstract: The material cannot be used for any other purpose without further permission of the publisher and is for private use only. There may be differences between this version and the published version. You are advised to consult the publisher's version if you wish to cite from it.

Cited by 31 publications

References 25 publications

The Mental and Physical Health Profiles of Older Adults Who Endorse Elevated Autistic Traits

The Mental and Physical Health Profiles of Older Adults Who Endorse Elevated Autistic Traits

Physical Health of Autistic Girls and Women: A Scoping Review

The Mental and Physical Health of Older Adults With a Genetic Predisposition for Autism

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