Dementia Prevalence in US Adults with Autism
Author Information
Author(s): Vivanti Giacomo PhD, Lee Wei-Lin MAS, Ventimiglia Jonas MAS, Tao Sha MPH, Lyall Kristen ScD, Shea Lindsay L. DrPH
Primary Institution: A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of dementia among US adults with autism spectrum disorder?
Conclusion
The study found a significantly higher prevalence of dementia diagnoses among individuals with autism spectrum disorder compared to the general population.
Supporting Evidence
- 8.03% of the ASD-only group had a dementia diagnosis.
- 8.88% of the ASD plus ID group had a dementia diagnosis.
- The odds of dementia diagnosis increased with age.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many people with autism also have dementia, and it found that many more people with autism have dementia than those without it.
Methodology
This retrospective cohort study analyzed linked Medicare and Medicaid data to assess dementia diagnoses in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
Potential Biases
There may be risks of bias due to reliance on claims data for diagnosis identification.
Limitations
The study lacked a comparison group and clinical assessments for diagnoses, and it focused solely on insurance beneficiaries.
Participant Demographics
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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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