Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been studied extensively in children, and is now estimated to affect one in every 88. However, relatively few have examined adults with the condition.

What’s New: On September 25, 2013, a study was published in the Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders evaluating the prevalence of clinical problems in older adults with both ASD and intellectual disabilities. Using surveys administered across states between 2009 and 2011, the researchers evaluated more than 10,000 cases of intellectual disability in adults between the ages of 30 and 59. They found that about 8 percent of study participants had ASD, and that those with both ASD and intellectual disabilities were about twice as likely—at about 50 percent—to engage in self-harm, disruptive, and destructive behaviors than their counterparts without ASD.

Why it’s important: This study demonstrates the need for more research focusing on adults with ASD, whose population is increasing.

Autism Profile

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