So I make the recommendation we label our samples accordingly! Midlife and old age. By doing so, we’ll improve the accuracy of our sample descriptions and help generate more information about these different life stages.

The open access version is here: kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/pu...

#AutRes

Autism & ageing research has advanced a lot over the past several years, and I’m very proud to be part of that movement forward. But, inadvertently, we have often described people over 50 as being ‘older adults’, which isn’t very accurate. It also doesn’t align with the labels used in other fields.

Video can be accessed here: youtu.be/mfRWoIQTc-M?...

It has now been added to the playlist :)

I think the team are still cleaning the video up before they upload it, but it'll end up here soon: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

The talks are added to a YouTube playlist. If you go to the Eventbrite page linked above, there is a link to this playlist with all of the previous ARCH talks :)

Hopefully we’ll get to see each other in person soon! :)

Ellen McAdams, a former lab MSc student, will be speaking in the ageing session on Thursday (11-12pm) about trauma and PTSD in middle-aged and older people.

Dr Madeleine Walpert (DementiaUK), who has teamed up with Gavin, will also be speaking about a co-produced dementia information resource.

We start by raising the issue that autism in midlife and old age are often overlooked. Using data from O'Nions et al. (2023; Lancet), we estimate that 89% of middle-aged autistic people and 96% of older autistic people in the UK are likely undiagnosed.

doi.org/10.1146/annu...

#AutRes

Hi there, I just wanted to share this paper about life expectancy. But as Louise says, we’re really limited in our understanding because of how few older people have autism diagnoses as most are undiagnosed. Likely not 50 though & closer to average expectancy age

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

If you'd like to hear more about our autism work, including lots on ageing and other topics, you can sign-up to the ReSpect Lab's mailing list here: forms.cloud.microsoft/e/ayFfhqc7pd

We then round off with some considerations for the future - lots and lots of work still needs to be done, particularly translational work related to supporting autistic people as they age. And of course, autistic people should be involved in that type of work.

doi.org/10.1146/annu...

These topics include: (a) the trajectory of core autistic features; (b) health profiles, biological aging, and mortality; (c) influential life experiences and life outcomes; (d) cognitive function, aging, and dementia; and (e) quality of life and social support.

doi.org/10.1146/annu...

Our review includes studies that involve people with autism diagnoses, and those with high autistic traits. We think this is important due to underdiagnosis of autism in midlife and old age.

We also focus on topics that the autistic community + clinicians often ask about.

doi.org/10.1146/annu...