New estimate suggests most autistic adults in England lack a formal diagnosis

BY EMMET FRAIZER  

I can relate. I got my diagnosis at the age of 49. – Greg

Anywhere from 435,700 to nearly 1.2 million people in England may be autistic but undiagnosed, according to a study of primary-care records — an estimate that includes more than 9 in 10 autistic people aged 50 and older.

Living for so long without a diagnosis can have consequences — especially for mental health, says lead investigator William Mandy, professor of neurodevelopmental conditions at University College London in England. “If you don’t have the label,” he says, “you’re less likely to get the adaptations and the support that you might need.” read more