There is some correlation between autism and reduced life expectancy, but study results are inconclusive as to whether autism and comorbidities are linked or whether individuals were unable to acquire proper and timely care options as in the neurotypical population. Furthermore, studies are limited to primarily having information about higher-needs populations.
Autistic individuals were once reported to have a significantly reduced life expectancy, on average approximately seventeen years shorter than that of the general population; however, this is no longer accepted in the scientific community as a blanket characteristic of autism due to problems and misrepresentation of the study conclusions.
Mortality rates during childhood and early adulthood can be notably higher. Various health conditions are more prevalent among autistic individuals, including epilepsy, cardiovascular diseases, and elevated suicide rates, particularly among those without co-occurring intellectual or learning disabilities; however, with the lack of study in autism and lack of comprehensive testing and diagnosis for autism, it is impossible to determine whether these comorbidities are related to autism or merely correlation (e.g. people already making regular visits to a doctor are more likely to have a diagnosis than those who have no reason for regular medical visits). Other common causes of death, such as respiratory, infectious, and digestive diseases, are comparable to those of the general population but may be exacerbated by side effects associated with long-term use of neuroleptic medications.
Socioeconomic disparities and a higher incidence of accidental deaths, including drownings, also contribute to increased mortality among higher-needs individuals. Historically, the autistic population have been vulnerable victims to infanticide. Among individuals with learning disabilities, women have the lowest life expectancy, which may be due to increased difficulty to access resources.
Early mortality among autistic individuals has been the subject of research since the 1990s, particularly in the more developed countries of the Anglosphere and Scandinavian countries. Identified as a "hidden crisis" in 2015, this phenomenon is primarily attributed to comorbidities associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), limited access to appropriate healthcare, and inadequate recognition and management of pain, especially among non-speaking individuals. Genetic predispositions and environmental factors may also play a role. Social exclusion has been linked to lack of awareness of support, lack of healthcare options, and increased suicide risk; while infanticide has been associated with broader social attitudes. Strategies to reduce early mortality include improved management of epilepsy, prevention of accidental drownings and sudden illnesses, enhanced suicide prevention measures, better communication between autistic individuals and healthcare providers, and promotion of regular physical activity.
History Research on autism and mortality is a relatively recent field. An elevated risk of accidental drowning among autistic individuals was identified as early as 1996. In 1999, Torben Isager and colleagues published a mortality study involving 381 autistic individuals in Denmark between 1945 and 1980. Among them, twelve had died, representing a higher mortality rate than in the general population. The causes of death included five cases of sudden illness, one additional case suspected to be due to sudden illness, four accidental deaths (three potentially linked to illness or personal difficulties), and two suicides. Half of the deceased individuals had been diagnosed with intellectual disability, while the other half had not.
In 2001, Robert M. Shavelle and colleagues conducted a study on mortality among autistic individuals in California between 1983 and 1997, identifying 202 deaths within a cohort of 13,111 individuals. The study is regarded as significant due to the size of the cohort and the methodology employed. Results indicated a higher mortality rate compared to the general population, particularly among women and individuals with co-occurring intellectual disabilities. The reported life expectancy was 62.5 years for women and 62 years for men. The main causes of death included sudden illness, respiratory diseases, suffocation, and drowning.
In 2008, a Danish study involving 341 individuals, as an update to a 1999 study, found that the mortality rate among autistic individuals was approximately twice that of the general population, with a higher rate observed among women.
In 2010, Christopher Gillberg and colleagues conducted a study on 120 autistic individuals born in Sweden between 1962 and 1984, reporting a mortality rate of 7.5%, which was 5.6 times higher than the general population. The study did not establish whether autism itself was a direct contributor to the observed outcomes. In 2013, Deborah Bilder and colleagues published findings from a study of 305 autistic individuals, identifying 29 deaths. The causes of death were primarily attributed to comorbid conditions rather than autism alone.
At the end of 2015, a study was published based on medical data from over 27,000 autistic individuals in Sweden, including approximately 6,500 with co-occurring intellectual disability. At the time of publication, it was considered one of the most comprehensive and reliable studies on autism and mortality, primarily due to the size and scope of the cohort. According to the researchers:
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2022 confirmed the elevated mortality risk among autistic individuals compared to the general population. In August 2023, a large-scale study conducted in the Ontario region of Canada examined mortality in relation to socio-economic factors among both autistic and non-autistic individuals.
Clinical and social observations Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) and is not considered a degenerative condition. However, it may be associated with comorbidities or perceptual differences that can contribute to reduced life expectancy or an increased risk of accidents, particularly in cases involving learning disabilities. Research indicates that the cognitive abilities of autistic individuals tend to remain stable with age and decline less significantly than in non-autistic individuals. Autism does not typically lead to age-related cognitive deterioration, such as a decline in working memory, although higher levels of disability or dependency may emerge over time. Studies estimate that between 20% and 25% of autistic adults experience a notable decline in cognitive function during adulthood. Many autistic adults also report a low quality of life and high levels of anxiety, which may result in social withdrawal and a perception of social environments as hostile.
Life expectancy Autistic individuals have a reduced life expectancy compared to the general population, with estimates indicating a reduction of approximately 16 to 18 years on average. This gap may reach up to 30 years for those with co-occurring intellectual disabilities. Mortality rates among autistic individuals, particularly during childhood and early adulthood, are estimated to be two to ten times higher than in the general population. According to researcher , mortality between the ages of 2 and 30 is approximately three times higher. Although few studies have analyzed mortality by age group, available data suggest that the disparity decreases with age, with the life expectancy gap narrowing to about three years after age 65.
While mortality rates reported in various studies differ, all consistently indicate elevated mortality among autistic individuals, particularly due to neurological conditions such as epilepsy, and suicide. Data from New South Wales, Australia, based on a cohort of 35,929 individuals, show a mortality rate 2.06 times higher in the autistic population compared to the general population.
Life expectancy for autistic individuals may be improving globally, as medical advancements allow for earlier identification and treatment of conditions that previously led to premature death. Factors contributing to reduced life expectancy include cognitive impairments, increased vulnerability to illness, comorbidities, social exclusion, sensory hypersensitivity, and age-related health challenges.
Limitations of studies The studies conducted in this field are primarily American, British, and Scandinavian (Swedish and Danish), and remain relatively limited due to a lack of international research on autistic adults. As Josef Schovanec (2017) points out, the suicide rate among autistic individuals "is one of the taboos of public debate" in France: their mortality is the subject of neither study nor public interest in this country—likely due to a focus on childhood and to practices that certain medical-social institutions seek to conceal (such as overmedication with neuroleptics).
French whistleblower denounced the deaths of five children in a (IME) in Gers. The published studies also present certain limitations, such as the inclusion of individuals previously diagnosed with "psychosis," some of whom may be schizophrenic, a condition known to be associated with a high risk of suicide. The available data are further constrained by the disappearance of a significant number of autistic adults from statistics for various reasons (e.g., name changes, relocation). Suicide studies, which are also limited in number, "have generally used small, non-representative samples, lack validated measures, and have not explored risk or protective factors."
Autism was first scientifically described in the 1940s, with the earliest diagnosed individuals reaching approximately 70 years of age by 2015. Research on aging and end-of-life issues in autism remains "almost entirely unexplored" (as of 2008), limiting knowledge of measures to enhance quality of life. Due to the disproportionate focus on autistic children, autistic adults (including the elderly) receive little attention in research and public discourse.
Gender differences
Since 1985, when Marion Leboyer examined differences in mortality between autistic males and females, studies have reported higher early mortality rates among autistic women compared to men, with some estimates suggesting rates up to four times higher. However, variations in reported gender-based mortality rates indicate measurement imprecision.
One possible explanation is sampling bias, as women are less frequently diagnosed with autism, potentially skewing data toward those with more severe or visible medical conditions. Causes and ages of death are generally similar between genders, though men are more likely to die from nervous and circulatory system disorders, while women have higher mortality from endocrine diseases, congenital malformations, and suicide. A meta-analysis found autistic women have a suicide rate twice that of men, though a review by Magali Segers suggests men are more likely to die by suicide.
Autistic women with learning disabilities have the shortest life expectancy. Among autistic individuals without an intellectual disability, overall mortality is higher among men.
Murders