Autism prevalence and outcomes in older adults

Metadata sources used for this reference

OpenAlex Crossref OpenCitations
Learn more about the sources used

Robison, J. E. (2019). Autism prevalence and outcomes in older adults. Autism Research, 12(3), 370-374. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2080

Publication date: 25 Feb 2019 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
OpenAlex source Publisher source (DOI)

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
1
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 1 (100.0%)
  1. John Elder Robison *

Abstract

Recent studies of mortality, illness, and suicide among autistic adults paint an alarming picture. Autistic people appear to die much earlier than the general population, and they seem to be far more vulnerable to a surprising range of medical problems. Suicide and depression seem far more common than in the general population. If correct, that suggests an older autistic population in silent crisis, with few if any supports. If so, older autistic people should be a focus for public health and human service agencies. But is the picture complete? Autism researchers ask for answers, identifying problems and their scope. This article discusses the limitations of our adult autism knowledge, and the challenges we will face studying adults. Researching and ultimately serving older autistic adults presents a unique set of problems that have not yet been addressed by scientists or clinicians. Autism Res 2019, 12: 370-374 © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Public policy toward autistic people is driven by data. Most autism data to date have been derived from and about children, because autism tends to be identified and supported in the public school system. This has created a public perception of autism as a childhood problem. In fact, autism is a lifelong difference or disability, and recent studies suggest serious overlooked concerns for autistic adults. This commentary discusses how we have evaluated adult autism so far, limitations of our knowledge, and how we might evaluate adult needs going forward. The commentary makes a case for specific new adult prevalence and outcome studies to inform public policy.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
17
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
0 / 17 (0.0%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
0 / 69 (0.0%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 0 / 11 (0.0%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 0 / 69 (0.0%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
11 / 69 (15.9%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 11 / 69 (15.9%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
11 / 11 (100.0%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 11 / 69 (15.9%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 11 / 11 (100.0%).
  1. Deborah K. Anderson , Jessie W. Liang , Catherine Lord (2014). Predicting young adult outcome among more and less cognitively able individuals with autism spectrum disorders . Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 55(5), 485-494. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12178 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2092522680
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  2. Adams J. (2018). Soundcube. https://twitter.com/search?q=soundcube&src=typd
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  3. Tatja Hirvikoski , Ellenor Mittendorfer-Rutz , Marcus Boman , Henrik Larsson , Paul Lichtenstein , Sven Bölte (2016). Premature mortality in autism spectrum disorder . British Journal of Psychiatry, 208(3), 232-238. Royal College of Psychiatrists.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.160192 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2168424072
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  4. Lisa A. Croen , Ousseny Zerbo , Yinge Qian , Maria L Massolo , Steve Rich , Stephen Sidney et al. (2015). The health status of adults on the autism spectrum . Autism, 19(7), 814-823. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1362361315577517 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2108322879
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  5. Jon Baio , Lisa Wiggins , Deborah L. Christensen , Matthew J Maenner , Julie Daniels , Zachary Warren et al. (2018). Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2014 . MMWR. Surveillance Summaries, 67(6), 1-23. Centers for Disease Control MMWR Office.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.ss6706a1 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2614349964
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  6. Traolach Brugha , Sally McManus , John Bankart , Fiona Scott , Susan Purdon , Jane Smith et al. (2011). Epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Adults in the Community in England . Archives of General Psychiatry, 68(5), 459. American Medical Association (AMA).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.38 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2138372369
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  7. Deborah Fein , Marianne Barton , Inge‐Marie Eigsti , Elizabeth Kelley , Letitia Naigles , Robert T. Schultz et al. (2013). Optimal outcome in individuals with a history of autism . Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54(2), 195-205. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12037 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2145215768
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. (2018). The network and its data including current 1 in 59 prevalence are describedonline at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/addm.html
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  9. Joseph Guan , Guohua Li (2017). Injury Mortality in Individuals With Autism . American Journal of Public Health, 107(5), 791-793. American Public Health Association.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2017.303696 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2601362491
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  10. Cusack J. (2016). Personal tragedies, public crisis: The urgent need for a national response to early death in autism . Personal tragedies, public crisis: The urgent need for a national response to early death in autism.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  11. (n.d.). IACC workshop on under‐recognized co‐occurring conditions in ASD—September23 2014. https://iacc.hhs.gov/meetings/iacc‐meetings/2014/iacc‐workshop/september23/
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  12. IACC. (2018a). Funding period 2014/15 Research Portfolio Analysis Report. Shows allocation of $310 million in total ASD research funding as allocated to the 2011 Strategic Plan questions one of which is adult/lifespan issues. https://iacc.hhs.gov/publications/portfolio‐analysis/2015/portfolio_analysis_2015.pdf
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  13. IACC. (2018b). Interagency autism coordinating committee. https://iacc.hhs.gov
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  14. Michael C. (2018). Cos Michael talks about autism from the inside. http://www.autismage.com
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  15. (n.d.). Padawer R. (2014 July 31). The kids who beat autism. New York Times.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  16. US Department of Defense. (2018). DOD Instruction 6130. 03—Medical standards for appointment enlistment or induction into the military services (May 6 2018 release) lists autism as an excluding condition for military service under section 5. 28. https://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmotc/nami/arwg/Documents/WaiverGuide/DODI_6130 . 03_JUL12.pdf
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  17. Wilcox M. F. (2018). Michael Forbes Wilcox: Personal observations of an activist Aspergerian. http://www.mfw.us/blog/2018/05/01/steve-silberman-autismconnectma/
    Type: Other
    Crossref