Earlier research has shown that autistic people on average die younger than others and that this may be, in part, due to chronic physical health conditions. Previous studies have also shown that autistic people are at higher risk of a variety of health conditions, but we don’t know what is driving these increased risks. Thus, better understanding of the physical health of autistic adults may help us improve both their quality and length of life.
1,156 autistic individuals and 1,212 non-autistic individuals took part in an anonymous, online survey developed by the team about their lifestyle choices and daily habits, personal and family medical history. The results indicate that autistic individuals are, on average, 1.5 to 4.3 times as likely to have a wide variety of health conditions, including low blood pressure, arrhythmias, asthma, and prediabetes.
This new study is also the first to examine the influence of smoking, alcohol use, and BMI. Surprisingly, the results show that these lifestyle factors (which increase the risk of chronic physical health problems in the general population) do not account for the heightened risk of heart, lung, and diabetic conditions seen among autistic adults.
The study also explored the experiences of female respondents and of older adults, both of whom remain understudied groups. The results revealed that autistic females, even more so than autistic males, are more likely to report increased risks of physical health conditions. In addition, the types of conditions of risk depend on the person’s biological sex. For example, autistic females are 4.3 times more likely to have prediabetes than non-autistic females; however, autistic and non-autistic males are equally likely to have prediabetes. These results suggest that a “one size fits all” approach to the healthcare of autistic people may not be effective.
Elizabeth Weir, the PhD student who led the study, said: “This is a first step in better understanding why autistic individuals are so much more likely to have chronic physical health problems. While smoking, alcohol, and BMI may play a role, we now need to focus on what other biological (e.g. genetic, hormonal, etc), environmental, lifestyle (e.g. diet, exercise, sleep, etc) or healthcare-related factors are contributing to these health disparities.”
Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, Director of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge, who was part of the team, said: “This new study highlights the physical health risks to autistic individuals, and has important implications for their healthcare. Understanding the reasons why these disparities exist will allow us to better support autistic individuals and improve the quality and length of their lives.”
Funding for this project was provided by the Autism Research Trust, the Rosetrees Trust, and the Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.
Reference
Weir, E at al. Increased prevalence of non-communicable physical health conditions among autistic adults. Autism; 9 Sept 2020; DOI: 10.1177/1362361320953652
Autistic individuals are more likely to have chronic physical health conditions, particularly heart, lung, and diabetic conditions, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Cambridge. The results are published in the journal Autism.
Earlier research has shown that autistic people on average die younger than others and that this may be, in part, due to chronic physical health conditions. Previous studies have also shown that autistic people are at higher risk of a variety of health conditions, but we don’t know what is driving these increased risks. Thus, better understanding of the physical health of autistic adults may help us improve both their quality and length of life.
1,156 autistic individuals and 1,212 non-autistic individuals took part in an anonymous, online survey developed by the team about their lifestyle choices and daily habits, personal and family medical history. The results indicate that autistic individuals are, on average, 1.5 to 4.3 times as likely to have a wide variety of health conditions, including low blood pressure, arrhythmias, asthma, and prediabetes.
This new study is also the first to examine the influence of smoking, alcohol use, and BMI. Surprisingly, the results show that these lifestyle factors (which increase the risk of chronic physical health problems in the general population) do not account for the heightened risk of heart, lung, and diabetic conditions seen among autistic adults.
The study also explored the experiences of female respondents and of older adults, both of whom remain understudied groups. The results revealed that autistic females, even more so than autistic males, are more likely to report increased risks of physical health conditions. In addition, the types of conditions of risk depend on the person’s biological sex. For example, autistic females are 4.3 times more likely to have prediabetes than non-autistic females; however, autistic and non-autistic males are equally likely to have prediabetes. These results suggest that a “one size fits all” approach to the healthcare of autistic people may not be effective.
Elizabeth Weir, the PhD student who led the study, said: “This is a first step in better understanding why autistic individuals are so much more likely to have chronic physical health problems. While smoking, alcohol, and BMI may play a role, we now need to focus on what other biological (e.g. genetic, hormonal, etc), environmental, lifestyle (e.g. diet, exercise, sleep, etc) or healthcare-related factors are contributing to these health disparities.”
Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, Director of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge, who was part of the team, said: “This new study highlights the physical health risks to autistic individuals, and has important implications for their healthcare. Understanding the reasons why these disparities exist will allow us to better support autistic individuals and improve the quality and length of their lives.”
Funding for this project was provided by the Autism Research Trust, the Rosetrees Trust, and the Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.
Reference
Weir, E at al. Increased prevalence of non-communicable physical health conditions among autistic adults. Autism; 9 Sept 2020; DOI: 10.1177/1362361320953652
ads:
Perfect piece of work you have done, this website is really cool with excellent information.
This is a first step in better understanding why autistic individuals are so much more likely to have chronic physical health problems
It’s hard to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Only wanna remark that you have a very decent web site, I enjoy the design and style it actually stands out.
Those are yours alright! . We at least need to get these people stealing images to start blogging! They probably just did a image search and grabbed them. They look good though!
Simply wanna admit that this is very helpful, Thanks for taking your time to write this.
Thanks a lot
Regards
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your articles as long as I provide
credit and sources back to your weblog? My blog is in the
very same niche as yours and my visitors would
really benefit from some of the information you provide here.
Please let me know if this alright with you. Thank you!
asmr 0mniartist
If you are going for finest contents like I do, just pay
a quick visit this web site everyday as it provides feature
contents, thanks asmr 0mniartist
I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This article
posted at this web page is genuinely good. 0mniartist asmr
Hi there, this weekend is nice for me, as this point in time i am
reading this great informative paragraph here at my house.
asmr 0mniartist
hey there and thank you for your info – I have certainly
picked up something new from right here. I did however
expertise a few technical points using this website, since I experienced to reload the site many times previous to I could get
it to load properly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK?
Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances
times will very frequently affect your placement in google and
could damage your quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords.
Well I am adding this RSS to my email and can look
out for a lot more of your respective interesting content.
Make sure you update this again soon. 0mniartist asmr
I do agree with all of the ideas you have introduced for your post.
They’re very convincing and will definitely work.
Still, the posts are very quick for beginners. May you please extend them a little from subsequent time?
Thank you for the post.
Hey there, You have done an excellent job.
I’ll definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends.
I am sure they will be benefited from this web site.
Sweet blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News.
Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
Appreciate it
Attractive portion of content. I simply stumbled upon your web site and
in accession capital to say that I get in fact loved account
your blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing on your augment
and even I fulfillment you get entry to consistently quickly.
At this time I am ready to do my breakfast,
once having my breakfast coming again to read additional news.
scoliosis
Greetings from Idaho! I’m bored at work so I decided
to check out your website on my iphone during lunch break.
I love the information you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
I’m surprised at how quick your blog loaded on my mobile ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, amazing blog!
scoliosis
scoliosis
This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger.
I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post.
Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!
scoliosis
Excellent post. I was checking continuously this
blog and I am impressed! Very useful info particularly
the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this certain info for a long time.
Thank you and good luck.
Hey there just wanted to give you a brief
heads up and let you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading correctly.
I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different web browsers and both
show the same outcome.
Hello, I think your website might be having browser compatibility
issues. When I look at your blog site in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer,
it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!
Other then that, awesome blog!
Incredible! This blog looks exactly like my old
one! It’s on a completely different subject but
it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Wonderful choice
of colors!
We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.
Your site offered us with valuable information to work on. You
have done a formidable job and our entire community will be thankful to you.
I will right away snatch your rss as I can’t in finding your email subscription hyperlink
or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please permit me understand in order that
I may subscribe. Thanks.
I like the valuable info you provide in your articles.
I will bookmark your weblog and check again here frequently.
I am quite sure I’ll learn many new stuff right here!
Best of luck for the next!
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having trouble locating it but,
I’d like to send you an email. I’ve got some creative ideas
for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it grow
over time.
Hi i am kavin, its my first time to commenting anyplace, when i read this article i
thought i could also create comment due to this brilliant paragraph.
Hi i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anywhere, when i read this article i thought i could also create comment due to
this sensible piece of writing.
Your means of explaining all in this article is genuinely fastidious, every one be able to without difficulty understand it, Thanks a lot.
You need to be a part of a contest for one of the
finest websites on the internet. I will recommend this website!
Great post. I was checking continuously this blog
and I am impressed! Extremely helpful info particularly the
last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was seeking this particular information for
a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.
Yesterday, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iPad and
tested to see if it can survive a 30 foot drop,
just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed
and she has 83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I had
to share it with someone!
You should be a part of a contest for one of the highest quality websites online.
I’m going to highly recommend this web site!
I always used to study paragraph in news papers but now as I
am a user of internet therefore from now I am using net for content,
thanks to web.
I read this post completely about the resemblance
of hottest and preceding technologies, it’s remarkable article.
You could definitely see your skills in the article you write.
The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who
aren’t afraid to mention how they believe.
At all times go after your heart.
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this,
like you wrote the book in it or something. I think
that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but
instead of that, this is magnificent blog. A
fantastic read. I’ll certainly be back.
Dear immortals, I need some wow gold inspiration to create.