Autism in Older Adults: A Pilot, Descriptive Study

描述（由申请人提供）：几乎没有人知道老年人（50岁以下）患有自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）。随着美国人口的老龄化和最近对ASD高患病率的认识，在不久的将来，患有ASD的老年人可能会给医疗系统和社会带来巨大的负担。在这项试点探索性研究的目标1中，我们建议访问北卡罗来纳州的国家核心指标数据库，系统地检查大约100名患有ASD和智力残疾（ID）的老年人中最脆弱的ASD老年人的医疗/行为问题率，功能水平，支持和服务利用率，与大约1000名患有非ASD的老年人进行比较。虽然Aim 1的范围很广，但覆盖范围很浅，在Aim 2中，我们提出了一个更详细的检查，包括40名患有ASD的老年人的行为模式和诊断、医疗条件、功能水平、支持、获得护理和生活质量，并与40名非ASD老年人进行比较。本研究的首要目的是为未来对老年ASD患者进行全面研究获得初步数据，为未来的临床实践、政策和培训提供信息。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Virtually nothing is known about older adults (> 50 years of age) with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). With the aging of the U.S. population and recent recognition of the high prevalence of ASD, it is likely that in the near future, older adults with ASD will impose a tremendous burden on the healthcare system and society. In Aim 1 of this pilot, exploratory study, we propose to access the National Core Indicators database in North Carolina, to systematically examine rates of medical/behavioral problems, level of function, support and service utilization in, perhaps the most vulnerable older individuals with ASD,~ 100 older adults with ASD and intellectual disability (ID), in comparison to ~ 1000 non-ASD, older adults with ID. Whereas Aim 1 casts a broad but shallow net, in Aim 2, we propose a much more detailed examination of behavioral patterns and diagnoses, medical conditions, level of function, support, access to care and quality of life in 40 older adults with ASD in comparison to 40 non-ASD older adult controls. The overarching aim of this study is to obtain preliminary data for a future comprehensive study of older adults with ASD, informing future clinical practice, policy and training. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Although research on autism has increased dramatically over the last 10 years, there has been no research on older (> 50 years of age) adults with autism and consequently virtually nothing is known about this group of individuals. With the aging of the U.S. population and recent recognition of the high prevalence of autism, it is likely that in the near future, older adults with autism will impose a tremendous burden on the healthcare system and society. This study will examine behavioral characteristics; medical, neurological and psychiatric conditions; level of function; community support; access to care and quality of life in older adults with autism to ultimately inform future clinical practice, public policy and training f the work force.