ragtime
kiwifarms.net
I conducted a pubmed search to assess Chris' health, life expectancy and the presence of typical autism comorbidities or lack thereof.
I found a few reviews and two nice articles.
Previously this was posted in "Random thoughts and questions". I reckoned somebody could appreciate this information that otherwise will be buried in that thread.
My quoting isn't exactly journal grade, but whatever
I don't always indicate omitted text/data with [...] for brevity purposes
----------------------------
Sleep in children with autism spectrum disorder
Children with autism spectrum disorder demonstrate an increased prevalence of difficulties with sleep initiation and maintenance. The consequences may include alterations in daytime behavior, memory, and learning in patients, and significant stress in caretakers. […]
Adults with autism spectrum disorders. Howlin, Moss
[…] The findings indicate that, as adults, many people with ASD, including those of normal IQ, are significantly disadvantaged regarding employment, social relationships, physical and mental health, and quality of life. Moreover, most of the research on outcome has involved relatively young people in their 20s and 30s-much less is known about outcomes for people with ASD as they reach mid-late adulthood.
Comorbidity of physical and motor problems in children with autism Matson, Matson, Beighley
[…]Among these conditions are premature birth, birth defects, gross and fine motor skills, and obesity
Many physical conditions co-exist with autism including motor deficits, birth defects, and obesity.
Rates of motor deficits and weight problems are consistently high across childhood and adolescence
Non-psychiatric health problems among psychiatric inpatients with intellectual disabilities.
Charlot, Abend, Ravin, Mastis, Hunt, Deutsch
[…] There was a significant correlation between number of psychoactive medications and number of medical problems. The most frequent medical comorbidity was constipation, reported in 60% of the inpatients, while gastro-esophageal reflux disease was identified in 38%. Older inpatients had an increased number of medical problems, as might be expected, but a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder, gender and level of ID had no detectible effect on rates of either medical diagnoses or medications. […]
Semin Clin Neuropsychiatry. 2000 Jul;5(3):164-70.
Infantile autism: adult outcome. Korkmaz
Although the core features of autism do not change qualitatively, a gradual overall symptomatic improvement including an increase in adaptive skills is observed in most cases with age. […]Depression, epilepsy, and behavioral problems such as aggression and agitation may be major clinical problems during adolescence. The early indicators of a better outcome include a higher level of IQ and language. […]Early behavioral and educational intervention may especially increase the adaptive skills of the patients and promote the in-family communication.
Autism and Asperger syndrome: coexistence with other clinical disorders Gillberg, Billstedt
-the authors first recount the typical symptoms and neuropsychiatric comorbidities of Autism Spectrum Disorders: “mental retardation, epilepsy, speech and language disorders, hearing deficits and visual impairments are the most common in Kanner
syndrome. Motor disorders (DCD/Developmental Coordination Disorder, clumsiness, abnormal gait patterns, catatonic features)
Epilepsy occurs […] at much lower rates, although possibly raised compared to the general population in Asperger syndrome.
Speech and language and motor control peculiarities are common in Asperger syndrome, […]Motor problems are also probably very common in autism …”
“Hearing impairment is much more common in autism than in the general population.
Severe visual impairment, including blindness, probably occurs at a rate well above that expected in the general population. “
-the authors then name syndromes which often bring the comorbidity of autism
->among a lot of colibris: fetal alcohol syndrome!
Obsessive-compulsive behaviour problems
“There are many similarities between the obsessive and compulsive phenomena of obsessive compulsive disorder […] and the ritualistic and repetitive behaviours typical of both Kanner and Asperger syndromes. “
Depression
Depression is overrepresented in close relatives of individuals suffering from autism. It is common in children and adolescents with autism, and it has been reported to be very common in Asperger syndrome
Eating disorders
Several cases of anorexia nervosa and autism occurring in the same families were described […] In a controlled follow-up study of representative cases of anorexia nervosa, 18% had an autism spectrum disorder […] A German study showed the rate of underweight and eating disorders to be much increased in Asperger syndrome/schizoid personality disorder. Problems with eating including particular food refusal, food fads, pica, hoarding, overeating and various degrees of anorectic behaviours, including complete food refusal and compulsive ordering of food on the plate are extremely common in autism. Some children with autism appear to prefer only soft foods and may have dificulty chewing (or rather knowing that they are expected to chew).Others prefer only solid foods and appear nauseated when expected to eat certain minced foods. It is very common for children with autism to accept only pasta and French-fries. Low-functioning individuals may `eat' anything within reach…
Abnormal sleep patterns
Sleep patterns are abnormal in autism in a majority of all cases. They may be most striking in infancy and the first few years of life, when the child may keep the whole family awake by crying, but may sometimes continue right through to adulthood. […]
Aggression
Aggressive behaviours are common in autism at all ages, but perhaps particularly in the adolescent and young adult group. It is possibly over-represented in Asperger syndrome also. The aggressive acts can take on frightening proportions and can lead to the requirement for heavy medication or treatment in high-security wards. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the majority of individuals with autism spectrum disorders are not aggressive and that it is rare for really dangerous situations to develop, even in the group that exhibits severely aggressive behaviours.
Into the Unknown: Aging with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Perkins, Berkman
For example, life expectancy for individuals with ASD at age 5 (i.e., the number of additional years that 50% of that cohort will attain) was 62 years for males and 62.5 years in females, compared with the general population figures of 68.1 years for males, and 74.8 years for females. This is a disparity of 6.1 years (men) and 12.3 years (women). However, life expectancies at age 65 diminished this disparity […] Thus, for both men and women with ASD at age 65, their life expectancy was just over 3 years shorter than the general population
Overall, life expectancy is reduced somewhat, although the level of intellectual disability can
influence this figure, as reported in life expectancy studies of the general overall population with intellectual disability. The foregoing data not only highlights concern regarding safety issues (e.g., accidental suffocation, drowning), […]
In terms of the increased rates of death from nervous and sensory diseases, cancer, or
circulatory diseases, the issue of whether there is an ASD-etiologically derived predisposition to particular health issues, or whether a lack of appropriate health surveillance may be prompting later stage diagnosis, and thus poorer prognosis, is yet to be adequately determined
High rates of epilepsy in children with ASD have been consistently reported within
the range of 35%–46% […]Chronic gastrointestinal disorders and food selectivity issues far exceed those of both typically developing children[…]
I found a few reviews and two nice articles.
Previously this was posted in "Random thoughts and questions". I reckoned somebody could appreciate this information that otherwise will be buried in that thread.
My quoting isn't exactly journal grade, but whatever
I don't always indicate omitted text/data with [...] for brevity purposes
----------------------------
Sleep in children with autism spectrum disorder
Children with autism spectrum disorder demonstrate an increased prevalence of difficulties with sleep initiation and maintenance. The consequences may include alterations in daytime behavior, memory, and learning in patients, and significant stress in caretakers. […]
Adults with autism spectrum disorders. Howlin, Moss
[…] The findings indicate that, as adults, many people with ASD, including those of normal IQ, are significantly disadvantaged regarding employment, social relationships, physical and mental health, and quality of life. Moreover, most of the research on outcome has involved relatively young people in their 20s and 30s-much less is known about outcomes for people with ASD as they reach mid-late adulthood.
Comorbidity of physical and motor problems in children with autism Matson, Matson, Beighley
[…]Among these conditions are premature birth, birth defects, gross and fine motor skills, and obesity
Many physical conditions co-exist with autism including motor deficits, birth defects, and obesity.
Rates of motor deficits and weight problems are consistently high across childhood and adolescence
Non-psychiatric health problems among psychiatric inpatients with intellectual disabilities.
Charlot, Abend, Ravin, Mastis, Hunt, Deutsch
[…] There was a significant correlation between number of psychoactive medications and number of medical problems. The most frequent medical comorbidity was constipation, reported in 60% of the inpatients, while gastro-esophageal reflux disease was identified in 38%. Older inpatients had an increased number of medical problems, as might be expected, but a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder, gender and level of ID had no detectible effect on rates of either medical diagnoses or medications. […]
Semin Clin Neuropsychiatry. 2000 Jul;5(3):164-70.
Infantile autism: adult outcome. Korkmaz
Although the core features of autism do not change qualitatively, a gradual overall symptomatic improvement including an increase in adaptive skills is observed in most cases with age. […]Depression, epilepsy, and behavioral problems such as aggression and agitation may be major clinical problems during adolescence. The early indicators of a better outcome include a higher level of IQ and language. […]Early behavioral and educational intervention may especially increase the adaptive skills of the patients and promote the in-family communication.
Autism and Asperger syndrome: coexistence with other clinical disorders Gillberg, Billstedt
-the authors first recount the typical symptoms and neuropsychiatric comorbidities of Autism Spectrum Disorders: “mental retardation, epilepsy, speech and language disorders, hearing deficits and visual impairments are the most common in Kanner
syndrome. Motor disorders (DCD/Developmental Coordination Disorder, clumsiness, abnormal gait patterns, catatonic features)
Epilepsy occurs […] at much lower rates, although possibly raised compared to the general population in Asperger syndrome.
Speech and language and motor control peculiarities are common in Asperger syndrome, […]Motor problems are also probably very common in autism …”
“Hearing impairment is much more common in autism than in the general population.
Severe visual impairment, including blindness, probably occurs at a rate well above that expected in the general population. “
-the authors then name syndromes which often bring the comorbidity of autism
->among a lot of colibris: fetal alcohol syndrome!
Obsessive-compulsive behaviour problems
“There are many similarities between the obsessive and compulsive phenomena of obsessive compulsive disorder […] and the ritualistic and repetitive behaviours typical of both Kanner and Asperger syndromes. “
Depression
Depression is overrepresented in close relatives of individuals suffering from autism. It is common in children and adolescents with autism, and it has been reported to be very common in Asperger syndrome
Eating disorders
Several cases of anorexia nervosa and autism occurring in the same families were described […] In a controlled follow-up study of representative cases of anorexia nervosa, 18% had an autism spectrum disorder […] A German study showed the rate of underweight and eating disorders to be much increased in Asperger syndrome/schizoid personality disorder. Problems with eating including particular food refusal, food fads, pica, hoarding, overeating and various degrees of anorectic behaviours, including complete food refusal and compulsive ordering of food on the plate are extremely common in autism. Some children with autism appear to prefer only soft foods and may have dificulty chewing (or rather knowing that they are expected to chew).Others prefer only solid foods and appear nauseated when expected to eat certain minced foods. It is very common for children with autism to accept only pasta and French-fries. Low-functioning individuals may `eat' anything within reach…
Abnormal sleep patterns
Sleep patterns are abnormal in autism in a majority of all cases. They may be most striking in infancy and the first few years of life, when the child may keep the whole family awake by crying, but may sometimes continue right through to adulthood. […]
Aggression
Aggressive behaviours are common in autism at all ages, but perhaps particularly in the adolescent and young adult group. It is possibly over-represented in Asperger syndrome also. The aggressive acts can take on frightening proportions and can lead to the requirement for heavy medication or treatment in high-security wards. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the majority of individuals with autism spectrum disorders are not aggressive and that it is rare for really dangerous situations to develop, even in the group that exhibits severely aggressive behaviours.
Into the Unknown: Aging with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Perkins, Berkman
For example, life expectancy for individuals with ASD at age 5 (i.e., the number of additional years that 50% of that cohort will attain) was 62 years for males and 62.5 years in females, compared with the general population figures of 68.1 years for males, and 74.8 years for females. This is a disparity of 6.1 years (men) and 12.3 years (women). However, life expectancies at age 65 diminished this disparity […] Thus, for both men and women with ASD at age 65, their life expectancy was just over 3 years shorter than the general population
Overall, life expectancy is reduced somewhat, although the level of intellectual disability can
influence this figure, as reported in life expectancy studies of the general overall population with intellectual disability. The foregoing data not only highlights concern regarding safety issues (e.g., accidental suffocation, drowning), […]
In terms of the increased rates of death from nervous and sensory diseases, cancer, or
circulatory diseases, the issue of whether there is an ASD-etiologically derived predisposition to particular health issues, or whether a lack of appropriate health surveillance may be prompting later stage diagnosis, and thus poorer prognosis, is yet to be adequately determined
High rates of epilepsy in children with ASD have been consistently reported within
the range of 35%–46% […]Chronic gastrointestinal disorders and food selectivity issues far exceed those of both typically developing children[…]
