What happens to mental health as autistic people age?

What happens to mental health as autistic people age?

A longitudinal study by Roestorf and colleagues (2022) found that:

-More than two-thirds of autistic adults experience anxiety and depression

– These challenges are linked to a lower quality of life.

But the key findings are concerning: 
– Mental health difficulties did not improve over time
– They were closely linked to challenges in daily life (work, social settings, independence)
This shows that anxiety and depression have a lasting impact on well-being across adulthood.
So the question remains: How can we better support the mental health of autistic people as they age?

Read the study here.