Health · Medical Research · 1 hr ago
Adult autism diagnoses rise as recorded health profiles change
A study tracked health records for more than 33 million people in the UK and Sweden from 2010 to 2023 in the UK and to 2021 in Sweden.
Adult autism diagnoses rose in both countries, with the UK rate increasing from 6 to 64 new diagnoses per 100,000 people a year.
The rise was strongest among people aged 16 to 20 and among women, who have increasingly received diagnoses.
The profile of adults diagnosed has changed: epilepsy was recorded less often, while anxiety, depression and ADHD were recorded more often.
These conditions can occur alongside autism, and the findings do not show that they replace it.
Researchers say the data cannot establish whether the shift reflects better recognition of people previously missed, changes in diagnostic practice, or both.
The findings point to a need for better coordination between primary care, mental health and autism services as experts continue to examine the reasons for the trend.
A study of health records from more than 33 million people in the United Kingdom and Sweden found that adult autism diagnoses have risen and the recorded clinical profiles have changed.
In the United Kingdom, annual adult diagnoses increased from 6 per 100,000 people in 2010 to 64 in 2023.
In Sweden, the rate rose from 43 per 100,000 in 2010 to 65 in 2021.
Among adults diagnosed with autism in the United Kingdom, recorded anxiety rose from 28.7% to 58.3%, while epilepsy fell from 10% to 4%.
The study cannot determine whether the changes reflect better recognition of autism or broader diagnostic practice, and notes that conditions such as anxiety and ADHD can coexist with autism.
- Who
- Researchers studied adults diagnosed with autism in the United Kingdom and Sweden.
- What
- The study found rising adult diagnoses and changing recorded health profiles, including more anxiety, depression and ADHD and less epilepsy, psychosis and intellectual disability.
- When
- The records covered 2010–2023 in the United Kingdom and 2010–2021 in Sweden.
- Where
- The United Kingdom and Sweden.
- Why
- The study describes the changes but cannot determine whether they reflect better recognition or broader diagnostic practice.
Better recognition of previously missed autism
Broader diagnostic practice
Reason for rising diagnoses
Better recognition of previously missed autism
More people whose autism was previously overlooked, including women and people without intellectual disability, are now being identified.
Broader diagnostic practice
Diagnostic practice may have expanded, or traits associated with other conditions may be attributed to autism.
Relationship to other conditions
Better recognition of previously missed autism
Earlier diagnoses of mental health conditions may sometimes have occurred before underlying autism was recognised; other conditions can also genuinely coexist with autism.
Broader diagnostic practice
Changes in diagnostic manuals may make autism easier to diagnose in people with pre-existing disorders.
The study’s record periods begin in the United Kingdom and Sweden.
The increase in adult diagnoses accelerated in the United Kingdom after this year.
The Swedish record period ends, with an annual diagnosis rate of 65 per 100,000 people.
The UK record period ends, with an annual diagnosis rate of 64 per 100,000 people.
- Study population
- More than 33 million people in the United Kingdom and Sweden
- United Kingdom records
- 24,537,039 adults, including 141,119 with an autism diagnosis
- Sweden records
- 9,096,874 people, including 100,817 with an autism diagnosis
- UK annual diagnosis rate
- 6 per 100,000 in 2010; 64 in 2023
- Sweden annual diagnosis rate
- 43 per 100,000 in 2010; 65 in 2021
- Ages 16–20
- Recorded prevalence reached 4.1% in both countries
3 sources
¿A qué llamamos autismo? Un megaestudio en adultos muestra un espectro de condiciones muy distintas
Autism explosion: Diagnoses have risen tenfold since 2010... but experts are divided over what's driving the surge in young women
¿A qué llamamos autismo? Lo que se consideró una “enfermedad rara” es hoy un abanico de condiciones muy distintas
What people are saying
There is much greater recognition in people without intellectual disability, in women who camouflage and have gone unnoticed, often with other types of diagnoses. Now it is seen that underneath there is autism, which very often accompanies mental disorders.
It is a study of very high quality, with representative data from the countries. It is not like taking patients from a hospital. The reality is that we do not have these data in Spain.
It is very interesting because, for those of us who are clinicians and have been in this field for 30 years, it confirms something one has sensed for a long time.