April 15 is Middle-Aged Autistics Day

The growing number of young adult autistics of today will soon join the ranks of becoming Middle Aged Autistics of tomorrow. 

There is limited research on issues specifically related to middle-aged autistics, as most studies tend to focus on children and adolescents with autism. 

Acknowledging the need for knowledge of what happens in this phase, along with the services and supports that will be needed. 

In order to understand autism in middle-age, lets first look at some of the common issues faced by the middle-aged group in the US general population. 

On the social front, some of the issues for the general population are

1. Social isolation: Middle-aged Americans may find it challenging to maintain social connections as they balance caregiving, work, and other responsibilities. One study found that adults aged 45 to 64 had the highest rates of loneliness and social isolation compared to other age groups. (1)
2. Financial stress: Middle age can be a time of significant financial strain, as individuals may be dealing with the costs of raising children, caring for aging parents, and saving for retirement. One study found that adults aged 45 to 54 had the highest rates of credit card debt and bankruptcy compared to other age groups. (2)
3. Work-related issues: Middle-aged Americans may face a variety of work-related issues, including age discrimination, job loss, and difficulty finding new employment. One study found that adults aged 45 to 54 had the highest rates of long-term unemployment compared to other age groups. (3)
4. Caregiving responsibilities: Many middle-aged Americans find themselves in the "sandwich generation," caring for both their aging parents and their own children. This can create significant stress and strain on their personal and professional lives. One study found that adults aged 45 to 64 were the most likely age group to be caring for both children and parents. (4)

Drawing Parallels to Middle Age Autism on Social Front

Limited  research throws light on some of social issues that have been studied in adult autistics

1. Social isolation and loneliness: increased risk of social isolation and loneliness compared to the general population(10).
2. Employment and financial instability: difficulties with employment and financial instability. One study found that only 14% of autistic adults employed full-time, and 79% lived with their parents. (11)
3. Relationship difficulties: difficulty forming and maintaining relationships, which can lead to social isolation and loneliness. One study found that autistic adults reported significantly lower levels of friendship quality and relationship satisfaction than non-autistic adults (12)
4. Stigmatization and discrimination: experience stigmatization and discrimination in social situations, including employment, education, and healthcare (13)
5. Caregiving/Housing/staffing: manny autistic children and autistic young adults with higher support needs will go to be to middle aged autistics with support needs. 

On the Health front, some of the issues for the middle-aged general population are

1. Cardiovascular disease: According to CDC, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the US, and the risk of developing it increases with age, particularly in middle age. (5)
2. Type 2 diabetes: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes increases with age, and middle age is a common time for diagnosis. One study found that the incidence of type 2 diabetes in the US was highest among individuals aged 45 to 64 years. (6)
3. Cancer: The incidence of many types of cancer increases with age, and middle age is a common time for diagnosis. According to the American Cancer Society, the median age at diagnosis for all cancers in the US is 66 years, which is in the middle age range. (7)
4. Mental health issues: Middle age can be a challenging time for mental health, as individuals may be dealing with career changes, family responsibilities, and other stressors. One study found that the prevalence of major depressive disorder was highest among individuals aged 45 to 64 years. (8)
5. Obesity: The prevalence of obesity increases with age, and middle age is a common time for individuals to become overweight or obese. One study found that the prevalence of obesity was highest among individuals aged 40 to 59 years. (9)
6. Other issues include musculoskeletal problems, respiratory conditions, and more.

Drawing Parallels to Middle Age Autism on HEALTH Front

Here are some examples of health issues that have been studied in autistic adults

1. Cardiovascular disease: One study found that adult autistics age40 and over had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes, compared to non-autistics in the same age range. (14)
2. Gastrointestinal issues: Gastrointestinal issues, such as constipation and irritable bowel syndrome, are common in individuals with autistics of all ages. One study found that adult autistics aged 30 to 39 had higher rates of GI symptoms than non-autistics in the same age range. (15)
3. Mental health issues:  increased risk for mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. One study found that adult autistics aged 50 and over had higher rates of anxiety and depression than non-autistics (16)
4. Remember childhood autism itself is high risk for many health issues, so we are not the healthiest of young adults growing into middle age and at an even higher risk. 

References
(1) AARP Foundation, 2018, https://www.aarp.org/research/topics/life/info-2018/loneliness-social-isolation-2018.html)
(2) Demos, 2012, https://www.demos.org/research/older-americans-and-credit-card-debt)
(3) Urban Institute, 2014, https://www.urban.org/research/publication/older-workers-long-term-unemployment-and-promoting-pathways-back-employment)
(4) Pew Research Center, 2013, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/01/30/sandwich-generation-increasingly-pressed-for-time-squeezed-by-stress/)
(5) CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm)
(6) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/diabetes-statistics)
(7) American Cancer Society, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-basics/lifetime-probability-of-developing-or-dying-from-cancer.html)
(8) National Institute of Mental Health, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression.shtml)
(9) National Center for Health Statistics, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db288.pdf)
(10) Cassidy et al., 2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6039263/)
(11) Roux et al., 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4546678/)
(12) Mazurek and Shattuck, 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4409734/)
(13) Griffiths et al., 2020, https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0237910)
(14) Croen et al., 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4558732/)
(15) Buie et al., 2010, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1362361310366560)
(16) Hofvander et al., 2009, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19410953)