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Autism/Can you name anyone with autism over 80?

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Expert: - 5/25/2010


Question
Does autism shorten life? I'm 26 with autism and I never hear about people with autism living past 60!
Can you name anyone with autism over 80?

Answer
Hi there, Kristine!

With the vast number of people who do have autism, I unfortunately can't look through lists to try and identify who has what. Not to mention the fact that unfortunately, when it comes to diagnosis, autism is not something that is often diagnosed in adults, particularly not older ones. And this means that in general, the only people who are diagnosed, unless they are severely autistic, will be about 30 years or younger at the moment.

However, there is nothing to fear: autism, in and of itself, has nothing that would shorten a lifespan. When it comes to physical, there is no difference between the 'autistic person' and a neurotypical individual. That is to say that as long as you take care of yourself well, you can easily live as long as any person. It's just the 'taking care of yourself' that is important, of course!

Questions? Comments? Feedback? Follow-ups? Feel free to let me know!

Trey

Autism

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Trey McGowan

Expertise

My primary expertise is in the area of the social, psychological, and mental development of Aspergers Syndrome and other high-functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorders. I am also very knowledgeable in the communication disorders and common co-existing issues. I'm well-read on most of these as well as having experienced it myself. Other aspects of autism, I can do fairly well at as well, from the oversensitivity to the recognition of it. Warning: I am *not* a medical professional, and while I can research answers through books and online, I can not give direct medical expertise.

Experience

I am 19 years diagnosed Asperger's Autistic, and have been reading up and studying it, as well as taking 'first hand accounts' for most of those 14 years. In addition, I have had three children, adopted elsewhere, all of whom are varying degrees of autistic from mid to high functioning. My mother has done some research on the subject as well, and passed some of it on to me.

Education/Credentials
I have completed grade school and most of high school, and achieved a GED. I've also received home schooling.

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