Nine in ten autistic people over 40 are undiagnosed, research suggests

Almost 90% of autistic people over the age of 40 in the UK are living without a diagnosis, a study suggests.

This could make them “more susceptible to age-related problems” and socially isolated in older age, researchers warned.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition and causes people to interact differently to others.

Those with the condition may get anxious in social situations, seem blunt, and struggle to understand what others are thinking or feeling, among other things.

The study estimated that among middle-aged adults who are autistic – between 40 to 59 years old – some 91.45% men and 79.48% of women are undiagnosed, with an overall underdiagnosis rate of 89.29%

Dr Gavin Stewart, British Academy postdoctoral research fellow at the IoPPN, said: “These very high underdiagnosis estimates suggest that many autistic adults will have never been recognised as being autistic, and will have not been offered the right support.

“This could make them more susceptible to age-related problems, for example being socially isolated and having poorer health.”

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Source: The Independent, 29 August 2025