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Do most people become more autistic?
- Thread starter Ginseng
- Start date
Stumbled over this article reg age and ASD gets worse etc...
If you mention autism to most people, they will think about children, but it is a lifelong diagnosis. Children with autism grow up to be adults with autism. Little is known about how the condition’s features change with age. This is because autism is a relatively new condition, first described in 1943 and not regularly identified until the 1970s. It is only now that those people first diagnosed are reaching older age that we can start to learn whether the condition changes over a lifetime.
There have been some suggestions that autism features may reduce as people get older. These reports, describing fewer difficulties with older age, are often from people with autism themselves and from their families. But how much evidence is there for this? Our latest research provides some answers, and also raises some new questions.
Working with the Autism Diagnostic Research Centre in Southampton, United Kingdom, we assessed 146 adults who were referred to the center seeking a diagnosis of autism between 2008 and 2015, and who consented to take part in the research. People were between 18 and 74 years old. A hundred of these adults were diagnosed with autism, and 46 people did not receive a diagnosis. This gave us an opportunity to explore the subtle differences between people who receive a diagnosis and those who don’t, even though they may have some other similar difficulties.
Our analysis showed that age and severity of autism are linked; that is, as age increases so does the severity of autism traits in social situations, communication and flexible thinking (such as coping with change or generating new ideas or solutions). We also found that older people with autism are more likely than younger people to extract rules from situations or prefer structure (for example, wanting to know how committees are organized or always following the same routine during a task).
This pattern did not occur in the group of 46 people without autism. Whether this tendency to extract rules is a ‘worsening’ of autism features or a general trend among all older people is not yet clear.
Strategies for life:
It may seem surprising that people who received a diagnosis much later in life had more severe features, as we might expect people with severe features to be more likely to seek a diagnosis earlier in life. What we found was that the older adults with autism performed better than the young adults with autism on some cognitive tests we carried out. The group diagnosed with autism was faster on tests measuring speed of thinking during a task and did better when dealing with visual and shape information. Perhaps these abilities have helped adults with autism develop strategies across their lives that have helped them to cope with their difficulties, which may explain why they were not diagnosed until adulthood.
When the group with autism was compared with the group without autism, we found that rates of depression and anxiety were high in both groups. A third of adults diagnosed with autism report high levels of depression or anxiety — rates much higher than in the general population. Depression among older adults is a risk factor for developing problems in memory and cognition. Given the high rates of depression among people with autism, it may be important for doctors to monitor mood during aging to ensure that individuals are not at risk for cognitive decline due to depression.
The people described in our research are not typical of people with autism. They all had cognitive abilities in the normal range and did not receive a diagnosis in childhood when autism is most often recognized. Despite this, older people in the study showed more severe features of autism. This might suggest that autism features become more severe with age. However, reporting more autism-related problems could also reflect a change in self-awareness. Better self-awareness is generally a good thing, but it might lead to greater realization of one’s own difficulties.
It isn’t yet clear whether people with autism age in the same way as people without autism — it’s still early days, given the relative age of the condition. Aging may also be different for each person with autism. People with autism may have developed strategies to help them age better, or may be at risk for depression and cognitive decline. In future work, we aim to see people every few years so we can understand how they change over time.
We all deserve to age as well as we can. It’s only by understanding how people with autism change as they get older, that we can start to put services in place to support them.
Rebecca Ann Charlton is senior lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London.
If you mention autism to most people, they will think about children, but it is a lifelong diagnosis. Children with autism grow up to be adults with autism. Little is known about how the condition’s features change with age. This is because autism is a relatively new condition, first described in 1943 and not regularly identified until the 1970s. It is only now that those people first diagnosed are reaching older age that we can start to learn whether the condition changes over a lifetime.
There have been some suggestions that autism features may reduce as people get older. These reports, describing fewer difficulties with older age, are often from people with autism themselves and from their families. But how much evidence is there for this? Our latest research provides some answers, and also raises some new questions.
Working with the Autism Diagnostic Research Centre in Southampton, United Kingdom, we assessed 146 adults who were referred to the center seeking a diagnosis of autism between 2008 and 2015, and who consented to take part in the research. People were between 18 and 74 years old. A hundred of these adults were diagnosed with autism, and 46 people did not receive a diagnosis. This gave us an opportunity to explore the subtle differences between people who receive a diagnosis and those who don’t, even though they may have some other similar difficulties.
Our analysis showed that age and severity of autism are linked; that is, as age increases so does the severity of autism traits in social situations, communication and flexible thinking (such as coping with change or generating new ideas or solutions). We also found that older people with autism are more likely than younger people to extract rules from situations or prefer structure (for example, wanting to know how committees are organized or always following the same routine during a task).
This pattern did not occur in the group of 46 people without autism. Whether this tendency to extract rules is a ‘worsening’ of autism features or a general trend among all older people is not yet clear.
Strategies for life:
It may seem surprising that people who received a diagnosis much later in life had more severe features, as we might expect people with severe features to be more likely to seek a diagnosis earlier in life. What we found was that the older adults with autism performed better than the young adults with autism on some cognitive tests we carried out. The group diagnosed with autism was faster on tests measuring speed of thinking during a task and did better when dealing with visual and shape information. Perhaps these abilities have helped adults with autism develop strategies across their lives that have helped them to cope with their difficulties, which may explain why they were not diagnosed until adulthood.
When the group with autism was compared with the group without autism, we found that rates of depression and anxiety were high in both groups. A third of adults diagnosed with autism report high levels of depression or anxiety — rates much higher than in the general population. Depression among older adults is a risk factor for developing problems in memory and cognition. Given the high rates of depression among people with autism, it may be important for doctors to monitor mood during aging to ensure that individuals are not at risk for cognitive decline due to depression.
The people described in our research are not typical of people with autism. They all had cognitive abilities in the normal range and did not receive a diagnosis in childhood when autism is most often recognized. Despite this, older people in the study showed more severe features of autism. This might suggest that autism features become more severe with age. However, reporting more autism-related problems could also reflect a change in self-awareness. Better self-awareness is generally a good thing, but it might lead to greater realization of one’s own difficulties.
It isn’t yet clear whether people with autism age in the same way as people without autism — it’s still early days, given the relative age of the condition. Aging may also be different for each person with autism. People with autism may have developed strategies to help them age better, or may be at risk for depression and cognitive decline. In future work, we aim to see people every few years so we can understand how they change over time.
We all deserve to age as well as we can. It’s only by understanding how people with autism change as they get older, that we can start to put services in place to support them.
Rebecca Ann Charlton is senior lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London.
No, but learning more about autism can certainly result in that. I think I am seeing that behavior in some of the more vocal prominent internet autistics who are making a name for themselves. Though we want and need to be ourselves we need to be recognizing situations that cause us to have meltdowns and try to prepare for those things. But to keep entering into the same situations and responding the same way... I don’t see that behavior as any type of healthy role model, yet the young people seems to think it is good. It concerns me.
The symptoms that have suddenly risen in me due to stress or sensory overload are from things I used to could handle ... resulted in new symptoms that I didn’t even know were autistic until I looked them up.
I think it is an age thing and not having the energy to allot for masking like I used to is a big part of it and sensory overload comes easier due to less energy to handle all the changes and stimuli.
The symptoms that have suddenly risen in me due to stress or sensory overload are from things I used to could handle ... resulted in new symptoms that I didn’t even know were autistic until I looked them up.
I think it is an age thing and not having the energy to allot for masking like I used to is a big part of it and sensory overload comes easier due to less energy to handle all the changes and stimuli.
There is definitely a confrontational element in some of us - "Accept me as I am, not make me who you want to be", but it can be counterproductive.
I've always felt it's important we understand how much of a mystery we can be to NTs as much as we know how mysterious they can be to us.
We can't meet in the middle unless both sides reach out. Many of us have been reaching out for decades, but it would do us no good to retreat and expect the other side to make all the effort.
I've always felt it's important we understand how much of a mystery we can be to NTs as much as we know how mysterious they can be to us.
We can't meet in the middle unless both sides reach out. Many of us have been reaching out for decades, but it would do us no good to retreat and expect the other side to make all the effort.
I hear you there, but that's the important point. Physically I'm knackered - I've had arthritis since my 20s and I'm nowhere near as fit and mobile in middle age as I expected to be, but it's the mental outlook that counts here. It's not the aches and pains and the fatigue, but the age you feel in your head, your emotions and your motivations.
I'm in my early 40's but probably look late 20's/early 30's.
But my take on that is as long as I look old enough to buy Alcohol from Tesco or get served in most Pubs without question, I don't care., although when Dad was 70 last October, I bought him a bottle of Whisky and got questioned, even though I'm definitely over 25 and look it.
But my take on that is as long as I look old enough to buy Alcohol from Tesco or get served in most Pubs without question, I don't care., although when Dad was 70 last October, I bought him a bottle of Whisky and got questioned, even though I'm definitely over 25 and look it.
I think we are talking past each other. 
I am saying I believe it is the aches and pains that cause it to be more difficult if not impossible to mask some of these autistic traits I used to could mask and the new ones popping up that I did not used to struggle with. Feeling young does not affect my ability to mask or to handle stressors.
I am saying I believe it is the aches and pains that cause it to be more difficult if not impossible to mask some of these autistic traits I used to could mask and the new ones popping up that I did not used to struggle with. Feeling young does not affect my ability to mask or to handle stressors.
That interests me no end @Ginseng
I've had to live with some of the physical symptoms of old age for many years, but I've never felt it had a significant impact on my ability to mask or compromise. The stresses of everyday life, and the huge curve balls we are occasionally thrown... That's a different matter
I've had to live with some of the physical symptoms of old age for many years, but I've never felt it had a significant impact on my ability to mask or compromise. The stresses of everyday life, and the huge curve balls we are occasionally thrown... That's a different matter
I've read basically the same thing other places, but what I read kind of pin pointed women - as in women aspies traits tend to worsen with older ages. I worded it that way because it's not 'as you get older' as in moving from 20'3 into your 30's, but aging into your late 50's and 60's.
If you think about it - all people start out learning all their abilities then they peak then start going backwards. During those middle adult years you have to be productive and fit in more (more than in childhood and old age) so that, by nature, is when you're going to be at your best at everything.
I, too, have noticed more traits returning that I hadn't had to deal with since childhood and young adult and feel like I'm going backward now.
I also have read articles that, according to one's ability to function in the outside world, that the autism levels professionals put you in can change.
Though there's also a reality that with age comes more fatigue. And fatigue always goes against our ability to mask our traits and behaviors as well. You might also factor in your own self-awareness at a later age. Where in fact you just may be a bit more relaxed now about who- and what you are, as opposed to earlier times in your life.
Going "backwards" or "backsliding" might be the perception of Neurotypicals. But one Neurodiverse person to another, I'd like to think that perhaps you're just becoming a bit more comfortable in your own skin along with having to negotiate an inevitable aging process.
Gracey
Well-Known Member
Would focus or prioritising effect ability?
The amount of importance placed on something?
Noticing but dismissing creaks, aches and discomfort. Accepting and expecting as part of aging. Not too much importance or focus placed there.
Being free to think about other things.
Until we start to concentrate on noticing and finding causes and ways to relieve,
leaving less headspace to cope with the workload we already had.
Overloading?
Bringing on stress?
The amount of importance placed on something?
Noticing but dismissing creaks, aches and discomfort. Accepting and expecting as part of aging. Not too much importance or focus placed there.
Being free to think about other things.
Until we start to concentrate on noticing and finding causes and ways to relieve,
leaving less headspace to cope with the workload we already had.
Overloading?
Bringing on stress?
@Judge I do understand what you are saying and agree those things do affect us, but - I also said this tends to be the case with women and I know exactly what the OP is saying because I feel it and it's a little different than just the stress and awareness and comfort.
You're a man so get out of my head. LOL (I hope you take that part as a joke as it was meant.)
You're a man so get out of my head. LOL (I hope you take that part as a joke as it was meant.)
I think the same ole meltdowns should certainly be improving. We are capable of learning. When we recognize what situations or things trigger a meltdown we should be able to develop a plan.
For instance when I moved back to Texas (my home state) for the third time and had to get a Tx driver license for the third time I semi panicked. Getting a Texas license is much more difficult than getting a Ky, Michigan, or Kansas license. Plus in my home town the DMV with their big gun holsters are real power trip jerks. Fortunately I am not in my home town but a different city.
It took me 3 attempts to get my license. This time they wanted marriage and divorce documents. I had to send off for them. I did throw a minor fit (my son thought it was a rather large fit) but he has no idea how freaked out I was. If I didn’t get my license before my birthday I would have to take the driver test all over again. I lose it so much when I am in panick mode that I thought they were never going to let me have my license and they were deliberately doing this to me. I know right? Slightly paranoid.
When I returned towards the end of December thinking I had everything (I went to a different facility) he said I didn’t and needed one more document. But this time I had prepared myself and told myself I wasn’t going to get my DL that this was just a dry run to see what I lacked. I still panicked somewhat and he could tell I was panicking, but this facility is real nice and no one wears a gun with a huge belt buckle. I was able to thank him and apologize. He made it real easy for me to be more prepared and gave everything I needed when I returned. I returned a couple of weeks later telling myself I would not get my DL and not to expect it. It is when I have an expectation that gets thwarted that I have difficulty coping. Some things I can handle but when they are important... oh, I got my TX DL .
But I did have a situation happen a few months ago that I could have handled before yet I was unable to handle it. I think my nerves are just shot. I am hoping I recover and get my mental strength back.
For instance when I moved back to Texas (my home state) for the third time and had to get a Tx driver license for the third time I semi panicked. Getting a Texas license is much more difficult than getting a Ky, Michigan, or Kansas license. Plus in my home town the DMV with their big gun holsters are real power trip jerks. Fortunately I am not in my home town but a different city.
It took me 3 attempts to get my license. This time they wanted marriage and divorce documents. I had to send off for them. I did throw a minor fit (my son thought it was a rather large fit) but he has no idea how freaked out I was. If I didn’t get my license before my birthday I would have to take the driver test all over again. I lose it so much when I am in panick mode that I thought they were never going to let me have my license and they were deliberately doing this to me. I know right? Slightly paranoid.
When I returned towards the end of December thinking I had everything (I went to a different facility) he said I didn’t and needed one more document. But this time I had prepared myself and told myself I wasn’t going to get my DL that this was just a dry run to see what I lacked. I still panicked somewhat and he could tell I was panicking, but this facility is real nice and no one wears a gun with a huge belt buckle. I was able to thank him and apologize. He made it real easy for me to be more prepared and gave everything I needed when I returned. I returned a couple of weeks later telling myself I would not get my DL and not to expect it. It is when I have an expectation that gets thwarted that I have difficulty coping. Some things I can handle but when they are important... oh, I got my TX DL .
But I did have a situation happen a few months ago that I could have handled before yet I was unable to handle it. I think my nerves are just shot. I am hoping I recover and get my mental strength back.
I think I’m getting worse.
I think it’s an accumulation of mental fatigue that can become more difficult to recover from. Like anything as you age, recovery slows down.
I think it’s an accumulation of mental fatigue that can become more difficult to recover from. Like anything as you age, recovery slows down.
Sorry but I'm flabbergasted, if I've understood this right. Do you guys have to get a new driving license each time you move state? or is it a time based renewal thing?
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