An astonishing new report shows that autistic people are dying at a much younger age than everyone else, and scientists aren’t sure why.
The new study, which takes data from several studies, finds that people die on average 16 years early compared to the rest of the population, according to an Autistica statement.
The charity is now trying to raise £10 million to figure just what is behind this shocking report, which was published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. One study shows that people with autism are dying more than 30 years earlier than everyone else, with an average life expectancy of 39. The leading cause of deaths was epilepsy, which appears to have a connection with autism but scientists are still trying to understand it. This study examined 27,000 autistic results and compared them to 2.7 million people without the condition.
Another study out of Sweden found that those with autism were dying 12 years younger on average, with a life expectancy of 58. The normal life expectancy is 70.
“New research confirms the true scale of the hidden mortality crisis in autism,” the charity said in a statement. “The inequality in outcomes for autistic people shown by this data is shameful, but we must not forget the real individuals and families behind these statistics.
“Every death is a personal tragedy and a national outrage,” the statement continues. “For years, society and the healthcare system have ignored the voices of devastated families who have lost autistic loved ones unnecessarily, and far too young. That ends now. We cannot accept a situation where many autistic people will never see their 40th birthday. National and local government, research funders and industry, as well as the NHS and service providers, all have a responsibility to step up and tackle this issue. Autistica is totally committed to playing our part, raising at least £10m of new funding through our Autism Lifesavers Fund to find answers and start saving lives.