New research from Canisius adds to a growing body of evidence that autism is associated with challenges in aging.
Researchers from the Institute for Autism Research (IAR) and departments of Psychology and Kinesiology studied aging individuals who do not have a formal autism diagnosis but demonstrate elevated autism characteristics. Their findings found those individuals to have greater health challenges. More specifically, study participants reported difficulty with social engagement due to poor physical health, poor mental health including depression and anxiety, and limited satisfaction with life and psychological well-being.
“While these findings underscore the importance of understanding autism and aging, they also point towards critical avenues for future research,” says Jennifer Lodi-Smith, PhD, associate professor of psychology and assistant vice president for academic affairs.
Lodi-Smith references the need to study the strengths and strategies of individuals who have lived a full life with autism characteristics and to identify ways in which society can support healthy aging for those on the autism spectrum.
The Journals of Gerontology published this latest research, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging. Principal researchers included Lodi-Smith, Jonathan D. Rodgers, PhD, assistant professor of psychology and Karl Kozlowski, PhD, professor of kinesiology.
