Mortality of autistic individuals

Common card · No. 320773

There is some correlation between autism and reduced life expectancy, but study results are inconclusive as to whether autism and comorbidities are linked or whether individuals were unable to acquire proper and timely care options as in the neurotypical population. Furthermore, studies are limited to primarily having information about higher-needs populations. Autistic individuals were once reported to have a significantly reduced life expectancy, on average approximately seventeen years shorter than that of the general population; however, this is no longer accepted in the scientific community as a blanket characteristic of autism due to problems and misrepresentation of the study conclusions. Mortality rates during childhood and early adulthood can be notably higher. Various health conditions are more prevalent among autistic individuals, including epilepsy, cardiovascular diseases, and elevated suicide rates, particularly among those without co-occurring intellectual or learning disabilities...

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