Autism Linked to Higher Mortality, Multiple Conditions in UK Study

Recent studies have revealed significant links between sleep patterns in infancy and the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Research involving over 1,000 Australian mother-infant pairs found that infants who sleep less or have poor sleep quality exhibit more autism characteristics and have a higher likelihood of receiving an autism diagnosis later in childhood. Specifically, an additional hour of night-time sleep by six months was associated with fewer autistic traits and a lower diagnosis risk, while increased sleep latency at 12 months corresponded to more autism traits and higher diagnosis odds. In mid- and later adulthood, autistic individuals face increased risks of multiple comorbid conditions, including cardiometabolic diseases, infectious diseases, and external conditions, which contribute to a 90% higher all-cause mortality compared to non-autistic individuals. Furthermore, autism manifests differently in males and females, with diagnostic criteria traditionally focused on male presentations, leading to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis in females who often employ adaptive social behaviors that mask symptoms. These findings underscore the importance of early sleep monitoring for autism risk and highlight the need for tailored diagnostic and healthcare strategies across the lifespan for autistic individuals.