Health conditions in autism: Defining the trajectory from adolescence to early adulthood
autside.substack.com
Autistic adults have higher rates of almost all medical and psychiatric conditions compared to non-autistic adults. Many of these conditions start in childhood, but there haven't been many studies looking at how common they are from the teen years into early adulthood. In this study, researchers looked at how health conditions change in autistic youth versus non-autistic youth as they go from their teens to early adulthood in a large healthcare system.
The study reported that the percentage and predicted rates of common medical and psychiatric conditions went up from age 14 to 22 years old. Autistic youth had a higher rate of most conditions compared to non-autistic youth. The most common conditions in autistic youth at all ages were obesity, neurological disorders, anxiety, and ADHD. The rates of obesity and high lipid levels rose faster in autistic youth compared to non-autistic youth. By age 22, autistic females showed a higher rate of all medical and psychiatric conditions compared to autistic males.
The findings emphasize the importance of screening autistic youth for medical and psychiatric conditions, along with health education tailored for us, to help prevent health problems later in life.
The AutSide is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
Health conditions in autism: Defining the trajectory from adolescence to early adulthood
Health conditions in autism: Defining the trajectory from adolescence to early adulthood
Health conditions in autism: Defining the trajectory from adolescence to early adulthood
Autistic adults have higher rates of almost all medical and psychiatric conditions compared to non-autistic adults. Many of these conditions start in childhood, but there haven't been many studies looking at how common they are from the teen years into early adulthood. In this study, researchers looked at how health conditions change in autistic youth versus non-autistic youth as they go from their teens to early adulthood in a large healthcare system.
The study reported that the percentage and predicted rates of common medical and psychiatric conditions went up from age 14 to 22 years old. Autistic youth had a higher rate of most conditions compared to non-autistic youth. The most common conditions in autistic youth at all ages were obesity, neurological disorders, anxiety, and ADHD. The rates of obesity and high lipid levels rose faster in autistic youth compared to non-autistic youth. By age 22, autistic females showed a higher rate of all medical and psychiatric conditions compared to autistic males.
The findings emphasize the importance of screening autistic youth for medical and psychiatric conditions, along with health education tailored for us, to help prevent health problems later in life.
The AutSide is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.