When we become older, we all hope to become wiser and happier, but we also know that someday we will decline. This decline is apparent in both cognition and health. This is true for everyone, although large individual differences exist in when and how fast one declines. Whether or not being autistic impacts the when and how of this decline is the central question that will be addressed in the current talk. You will learn that the findings are mixed and the literature is still scarce. However, in general the future outlook seems highly similar for autistic and non-autistic people even though autistic people do seem to have an increased risk for specific health related conditions. I will touch upon topics such as menopause, camouflaging, and feelings of being in control as these are all relevant factors for one’s well-being.

This is a joint presentation by ARI and The World Autism Organisation.