Prof. Dr. Vladimir Trajkovski

Ageing in people with autistic spectrum disorder

Int J Geriatr Psychiatry (2011)
E. B. MukaetovaLadinska1, E. Perry1, M. Baron2, C. Povey2 on behalf of the Autism Ageing Writing Group
1Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
2National Autistic Society, London, UK
Correspondence to: E. B. MukaetovaLadinska, Email: Elizabeta.MukaetovaLadinska@ncl.ac.uk

Background: Although autism in children and in adults attracts attention with respect to clinical and
research needs, autism in the older individuals has not been considered to any degree. We review the
evidence for urgently addressing the question of ageing in people with autistic spectrum disorder
(ASD), focusing on those with disability.
Methods: Perspectives are reviewed in relation to demographics, experiences of relatives or carers,
anticipated residential care needs, requirement for specifically designed cognitive assessment tools and
importance of initiating new brain ageing research initiatives in this area.
Results: With escalating numbers of ASD individuals with disability reaching old age, provision of care
is the paramount issue that is only beginning to be addressed in a few European communities and in
the USA. How ageing affects cognition in such individuals as they reach an age no longer consistent
with parental care is unknown, lacking any published evidence, and there is a clear need to design
cognitive and behavioural assessment tools appropriate to ageing in ASD individuals with disability, as
was the case with respect to dementia as a whole. Although there is a growing body of evidence on
pathological, imaging, neuropharmacological and other key brain abnormalities in ASD, these are, to
date, confined to children and young (only rarely to middle aged) adults.
Conclusions: The need for new initiatives in research into ageing in ASD is urgent. Apart from a
growing care crisis, the prospect of understanding brain ageing in this population may bring potential
rewards beyond immediate clinical need given the precedent of Down syndrome.

Key words: autism; autism spectrum disorders; ageing; older