ArticleAge and ageing2026
Risk of dementia and related neurocognitive disorders among autistic and non-autistic older adults: role of established risk factors.
Article in Age and ageing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundNeurocognitive disorders (i.e. dementia) are a leading cause of cognitive decline and loss of independence among older adults. While reported rates are higher among autistic adults, it is unclear whether this disparity persists after accounting for known risk factors.
objectiveWe compared neurocognitive disorder risk between autistic and non-autistic older adults after adjusting for known risk factors and evaluated whether risk factors moderated this disparity. We replicated our analyses among subsets of autistic older adults with and without co-occurring intellectual disability (ID).
designRetrospective longitudinal cohort study.
settingNational Medicare Standard Analytical Files (2013-21).
participantsThe sample included 9201 autistic and 18 356 non-autistic older adults aged 65 or older, who were matched on demographic and clinical characteristics.
methodsOur dependent variable was time to neurocognitive disorder, defined as years between age 65 or older and the date of first diagnosis.
resultsAutistic older adults had a 20% higher adjusted risk of neurocognitive disorders than non-autistic older adults (95% CI = 14%-25%; P < .001). Risk was highest among autistic adults with co-occurring ID [adjusted subhazard ratio (SHR) = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.36-1.57]. The disparity between cohorts was amplified in the presence of most known risk factors, notably hypertension (SHR = 2.04; 95% CI = 1.79-2.32), high cholesterol (SHR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.46-1.75), depression (SHR = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.42-1.62), and type 2 diabetes (SHR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.36-1.55).
conclusionsAutistic older adults, particularly those with ID, face significantly higher risk of neurocognitive disorders even after adjusting for known risk factors. These findings emphasise that risk factors may impact the autistic population differently and highlight the need for early screening and tailored prevention strategies.
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