Aging in Autism: Challenges, Needs, and Best Practices to Support Autistic Adults as they Transition from Mid-life to their Senior Years

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 31 children is diagnosed with autism. But autistic adults remain understudied and under-supported, and these challenges often intensify with age. The transition from midlife to older adulthood (i.e., ages 50+) can bring increased vulnerability related to physical and mental health, access to healthcare and services, financial security, and societal barriers. These difficulties are often compounded by the aging, illness, or loss of family caregivers, placing many older autistic adults at greater risk for age-related diseases, poverty, housing instability, loneliness, and abuse. Despite this, relatively little is known about cognitive and behavioral trajectories in autistic adults as they age, or about the neural mechanisms and correlates that may underlie these changes.

Recognizing these concerns, the first-ever United Nations Think Tank on "Autism and Aging: Exploring the Challenges of Autistic Seniors" was convened in October 2025, bringing together researchers from around the world to examine how best to support autistic adults as they grow older. Discussions highlighted a wide range of barriers affecting quality of life in later years and emphasized the need for new research, innovative service models, and public policies designed to address the unique needs of this population.

This special issue seeks to advance both research and practice in the area of aging and autism, with particular attention to transitions and to the challenges, vulnerabilities, supports, and sources of resilience that characterize mid and later life (i.e., ages 50+). We particularly encourage submissions that go beyond cognitive screening to examine cognitive and behavioral functioning, change over time, and/or associated neural mechanisms or correlates in older autistic adults. Improving our understanding of these issues is essential for guiding future research, shaping services, and informing healthcare practice. Recent studies have made it clear that the challenges associated with aging in autism are not limited to any one country or region but represent a global concern. Considerably more research is needed to identify effective strategies for meeting the changing needs of older autistic adults, as well as supporting the front-line professionals who are often insufficiently prepared to address these complex issues.

Scope and information for Authors:

• Developmental or life-course shifts across mid- and later- life in autism (e.g., functional decline)

• Transition to and through older adulthood in autism (e.g., service navigation, future planning)

• Cognitive and behavioral change with age in autism, and associated neural mechanisms or correlates (e.g., executive function, memory, sensory processing, neuroimaging, biomarkers)

• Physical health issues (e.g., cancer, dementia, cardiovascular)

• Mental health issues (e.g., anxiety, depression, ADHD)

• Co-occurring medical conditions (e.g., GI, Epilepsy, Ehlers-Danlos.)

• Social issues (e.g., loneliness, isolation)

• Concerns and issues for caregivers and/or services providers (e.g., respite services, staff training)

• Care needs in autism (e.g., medication management, palliative care)

• Socioeconomic concerns and barriers (e.g., housing instability, transportation barriers)

• Environmental challenges (e.g., sensory overload, emergency preparedness)

• Policy considerations (e.g., supportive housing, healthcare access)

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Autism; Aging; Adults; Elderly; Neurodevelopmental disorder

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.