Leading autism researcher Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen has joined calls for a statutory public inquiry into the deaths of around 2,000 patients of a mental health ward in Essex.

Females, on average, are better than males at putting themselves in others’ shoes and imagining what the other person is thinking or feeling, suggests a new study of over 300,000 people in 57 countries.

Autistic people are more vulnerable to depression and anxiety during pregnancy, according to latest research from the ARC. The results are published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and have important implications for supporting autistic people during pregnancy.

Autistic individuals are more likely to have chronic mental and physical health conditions, and also report lower quality healthcare than others.

A survey of lawyers found that an overwhelming majority of their clients were not provided with adequate support or adjustments.

A significant number of people who died by suicide were likely autistic, but undiagnosed, highlighting the urgent need for earlier diagnosis and tailored support for suicide prevention.

Are the sleep patterns, diet, and exercise habits of autistic adults similar to those of autistic children? – Autism Advocate Parenting Magazine, October 2021 p.38

Autistic individuals are less likely to identify as heterosexual and more likely to identify with a diverse range of sexual orientations than non-autistic individuals.

While autistic individuals are less likely to use substances, those who do so are more likely to self-medicate for their mental health symptoms.

Autistic people have far greater risks of long term physical health conditions than others, but the reasons for this remain unclear. New research suggests that unhealthy lifestyle habits may be an important contributing factor.

Around one in 57 (1.76%) children in the UK is on the autistic spectrum, significantly higher than previously reported.

Autistic individuals are more likely to have chronic physical health conditions, particularly heart, lung, and diabetic conditions. Better understanding of the physical health of autistic adults may help us improve both their quality and length of life.