Risk of falls is high for older individuals with ASD

Older adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may be at significantly increased risk for falls compared to their non-autistic peers, according to a study by researchers in the United States.

Lauren Bishop and colleagues used Medicare data on 13,732 individuals with ASD and 25,497 non-autistic controls to examine the odds of falling or fall-related injuries. “Overall,” they say, “47.4% of autistic older adults had a fall compared to 31.5% of non-autistic older adults.” Individuals with ASD also had significantly more fall-related injuries and hospitalizations.

The researchers conclude, “These findings highlight the need for targeted fall prevention strategies for autistic older adults to reduce morbidity and mortality.” For example, they say, “interventions that enhance postural stability among autistic children or reduce fall risk in the general older adult population could be adapted as fall prevention interventions for autistic older adults.”

Citations

“Falls and fall-related injuries and hospitalizations in autistic older adults: a Medicare data study,” Lauren Bishop, Madison Blake, Melica Nikahd, J. Madison Hyer, Brian W. Patterson, Bethany J. Wolf, and Brittany N. Hand, Autism, April 27, 2026 (free online). Address: Lauren Bishop, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705, [email protected].