Overview

• Researchers estimate that 89% of autistic people aged 40–59 and 97% of those 60+ in the UK have no diagnosis, based on a reanalysis of 2018 healthcare records.
• The review reports higher rates of nearly all physical and mental health conditions in midlife and older autistic adults, including cardiovascular, neurological and gastrointestinal disorders, anxiety and depression.
• Particularly elevated risks include a sixfold likelihood of suicidal ideation or self-harm, a fourfold likelihood of early-onset dementia, and an average life expectancy about six years lower than for non-autistic people.
• Access to care is hindered by systems not designed for autistic communication and sensory needs, uncertainty over services, gaps in continuity of care and limited clinician understanding in adulthood.
• Although ageing research in autism has grown since 2012, only about 0.4% of autism studies since 1980 focus on midlife or older adults; the review, published in the Annual Review of Developmental Psychology and supported by the British Academy and NIHR Maudsley BRC, urges lifespan research and tailored services, while the National Autistic Society calls for urgent funding to expand diagnostic access.