Autism is often painted as a childhood condition, usually spotted in the school playground when social quirks or communication differences raise eyebrows. But what happens when those children grow up without anyone connecting the dots? According to new research from King’s College London, the answer is unsettling: most autistic adults over 40 are still flying under the diagnostic radar.

The review, published in the Annual Review of Developmental Psychology, estimates that a staggering 89 per cent of people over 40 with autism remain undiagnosed. To put that into perspective, while around 23 per cent of autistic children under 19 are missed, nearly 96 per cent of those over 60 have never been recognised as autistic. That’s not just a gap; that’s a canyon.

The Age Factor

When the researchers broke it down by age and gender, the numbers looked even more lopsided. Among men aged 40 to 59, more than 91 per cent had never been diagnosed. For women in the same age group, the figure was almost 80 per cent. By the time people reached their sixties, both men and women crossed into the 96 to 97 per cent range of being undiagnosed.

Compare that with the 20 to 39 age group, where roughly half remained undiagnosed, and the generational divide becomes clear. Today’s younger adults are far more likely to be spotted, assessed and supported. Older adults, meanwhile, have often been left to muddle through without a name for their lifelong differences.

Why It Matters

Gavin Stewart, lead author of the study, explains that a lack of diagnosis means many autistic adults were never offered the right support, leaving them more vulnerable to age-related problems. These range from social isolation to poor physical and mental health.

The review found that autistic people in middle age and beyond have higher rates of almost every health condition compared to non-autistic peers, like heart disease, neurological issues, autoimmune disorders, gastrointestinal problems, anxiety and depression. Add age-related conditions like osteoporosis, arthritis and Parkinson’s disease, and the picture gets even more complicated.

Even more concerning, autistic older adults were six times more likely to report suicidal thoughts or self-harm and four times more likely to develop early-onset dementia.

The Hidden Struggles

The study highlighted another layer of challenge: healthcare itself. Many older autistic adults face obstacles in accessing medical support due to communication differences, sensory sensitivities or simply not knowing how to navigate the system. Combine that with a shortage of healthcare professionals trained in recognising autism in adults, and it’s no wonder so many cases slip through the cracks.

Professor Francesca Happé, co-author of the review, stresses that this is a global public health issue. “Understanding the needs of autistic people as they age is a pressing global public health concern. As autistic people age, the nature of the challenges they face changes. We must adopt a lifespan approach that funds long-term research, integrates tailored healthcare, and expands social supports so that ageing autistic people can live happy and healthy lives,” she says. In other words, autism doesn’t disappear after childhood, so neither should support.

Lost in the Shuffle

The findings also suggest that research into autism may have been skewed for years. If most older adults remain undiagnosed, then studies have largely overlooked them. That means our current understanding of how autistic people age is incomplete at best. No wonder policies and services have not caught up.

Employment struggles, strained relationships and social isolation were all noted as common experiences for older autistic adults. Without the framework of a diagnosis, many never knew why they felt out of step with the world, and their difficulties were often chalked up to personality flaws or “just how they are”.

Why a Diagnosis Still Matters

If you’re wondering whether getting a diagnosis later in life makes a difference, the answer is yes. Recognition can bring clarity, opening doors to support systems, healthcare adaptations and even financial benefits. It can also reshape how family, friends and colleagues understand a person’s behaviour and needs.

The NHS encourages adults who suspect they might be autistic to speak to their GP and ask about a referral for an assessment. Specialists can help by gathering life history, speaking with people who know you well and observing how you interact with others.

A Call for Change

The review ends with a clear message: it’s time to stop treating autism as a childhood-only issue. For too long, older autistic adults have been invisible, their experiences untold and their needs unmet. With diagnosis rates still alarmingly low, researchers are urging more studies, better services and a cultural shift that embraces autism across the lifespan.

In South Korea, AI companion robots are being given to elderly people who live alone. These robots, called Hyodol, act as a comforting presence and a helpful tool for overworked eldercare staff. For seniors who lives alone in Seoul, the robot becomes like most treasured companion, a "lovely granddaughter" she talks to affectionately.

How Does AI Robots Transform Elderly Care

According to Taylor & Francis Online 2024 study, the Hyodol robot, a plush doll with built-in AI, is designed to keep seniors company in a nation where many older adults are deeply lonely. It Hyodol acts as a companion, offering services like religious chants, quizzes to help with memory, and daily reminders to take medicine. Media reports show that the Guro municipality in Seoul has given out over 400 of these robots, and more than 12,000 are in use across the country.

Eldercare workers say the robots have become their "eyes and ears," helping them monitor clients between visits. While the robots add to their workload with maintenance, workers feel it's worth it because of the comfort they bring. The bots provide a constant presence and someone to talk to, which can help ease feelings of loneliness and depression.

How Do Humans Bond With Bots?

Older adults often form strong connections with their Hyodols. They care for the dolls as if they were real grandchildren, feeding them pretend meals and dressing them in special outfits. Some people have even asked to be buried with their robots. Based on research at welfare centers and in seniors' homes, it shows that the robots create a "robotic multi-care network." This network includes the robots themselves, their monitoring system, elderly users, caregivers, company staff, and family members.

Instead of replacing human caregivers, the robots change how care work is done. They shift and share tasks, creating different kinds of care practices—some are hands-on, some are digital, some are close by, and some are done from a distance.

There are also ethical issues. Some seniors may become more isolated, staying home because they have a companion greeting them at the door. For those with dementia, the robots' words can be taken too literally. For example, after her Hyodol mentioned a stream, one elderly woman with dementia walked to a creek alone with her robot. The company has since removed phrases that could be misinterpreted.

Will AI Become New Age Care For Elderly?

Within this network, elderly users have found different ways to connect with the robot. Some see Hyodol as a "grandchild" and treat it with affection, while others view it as a way to stay in touch with their caregivers. The 2024 study shows that while the robots don't replace human caregivers, they do change and redistribute the work, proving to be a valuable addition to the eldercare system.

South Korea is facing a shortage of care workers, and the Hyodol program is a way to fill this gap. The robots are a much cheaper alternative to hiring more staff. While they can't replace human care, they act as a "central node" that connects people. The robots handle the first layer of oversight, alerting social workers when there's an issue.

The program has led to heartwarming moments, like a fashion show where seniors and their robots wore matching outfits. For many, the robot is not just a device, but a cherished friend. As one elderly woman said, after receiving her Hyodol, she no longer wanted to die.

When the music begins, Lidia Beltran, a Parkinson's disease patient, let's go of her physical struggles. Holding onto her therapist, she moves with grace and precision. This is part of a special program in Buenos Aires that uses tango to help people with Parkinson's. For over 15 years, around 200 patients have participated in these workshops to see how dancing affects their symptoms.

Parkinson’s is an age-related degenerative brain condition that causes parts of your braint to deteriorate. It weakens the nerve cells in some parts of your brain and causes it to become damaged. Which means things like maintaining your posture, cramped or small handwriting etc.

How Tango Can Help Parkinson’s Diseases

Media reports explain a neurologist Nelida Garretto says that a big problem for people with Parkinson's is trouble walking. She explains that since tango is a walking dance, it helps patients practice important movements like starting and stopping.

Other experts note that the results have been very good. Many patients find ways to manage their symptoms, like the sudden "freezing" that makes their feet feel stuck. One patient found that doing a "figure eight" with her feet could help her get out of a freeze. According to Arakaki, dancing creates a "sensory pathway" in the brain that helps with walking

While medication is a necessary part of Parkinson's treatment, tango acts as a form of physical therapy. Arakaki believes that music and dance help people move past difficult physical moments.

Lidia Beltran, 66, was diagnosed with Parkinson's two years ago and had never danced tango before. She joined the program on her doctor's advice, hoping it would slow the disease's progression. Beyond the physical improvements, the dance workshop also helps with the social isolation and sadness that often come with the disease. Beltran says that dancing boosts her stability and her mood. She feels that after dancing, she will have a better day.

How Does Dance Help With Parkinson’s

According to a 2024 study published in the Scientific Reports, while medications for Parkinson's disease (PD) can help with many movement issues, they don't always address other symptoms, like thinking problems or balance issues. Because of this, doctors are looking for other treatments to use alongside medication.

In a new study, researchers looked at two different types of activities to see if they could help with Parkinson's symptoms: Argentine tango and physical therapy.

Specialists say tango is effective because it is more than just a dance; it requires the brain to do many things at once. Dancers must:

• Walk in a specific way.
• Keep up with the music's rhythm.
• Respond to their partner's movements.

The 2024 study followed 24 patients with Parkinson's over four months. Half of them took part in tango classes twice a week, and the other half had group physical therapy twice a week. Both groups were tested before and after to see how their symptoms had changed.

Improved Balance and Motor Skills

Both groups saw similar improvements in their motor skills, especially with balance, both when standing still and when moving. The physical activities helped stabilize their overall abilities and slow down the disease's progression.

Better Thinking Skills

Both groups also improved on a test that measures "action naming," which is a type of cognitive skill.

Tango's Unique Benefit

The most interesting finding was that only the tango group showed a significant improvement in recognizing emotions on people's faces. This suggests that tango might help with certain social and emotional skills in a way that regular physical therapy does not.

As children we have all imagined just how fun it would be if we lived around mythical creatures like dragons, elves and werewolves. However, these are all impossible and magical beings remain a part of the fantasy world. But that was not the case for this woman, for whom dragons actually become her reality. Although she wasn’t living among actual dragons, it started looking to her like that when suddenly the people around her transformed into these mythical creatures.

In July 2011, a 52-year-old woman sought help at a psychiatric clinic in The Hague for a condition she'd had her whole life: seeing people's faces turn into dragon-like faces. This happened many times a day, and she also saw similar faces floating toward her from walls and screens. At night, she saw many of them in the dark.

But why was this happening? And what caused her to see these hallucinations, here is what the 2014 reports published in the Lancet explained.

How Did She View People?

Although she could see and recognize a person's real face, after a few minutes, it would turn black, grow pointy ears and a snout, and show scaly skin with huge, bright yellow, green, blue, or red eyes. As a child, this didn't bother her, but in her teenage years, she realized this wasn't how others saw faces. She felt alone and became depressed, leading her to abuse alcohol for many years. Despite these challenges, she was able to finish school, get married, have a daughter, and work as a school administrator. However, her difficulty with faces caused problems in her relationships and at work, forcing her to change jobs often.

After her symptoms got worse, she tried to get help. A local psychiatrist gave her medication that didn't work. Desperate, she reached out to Professor Oliver Sacks, a famous neurologist, who directed her to a team in The Netherlands.

The patient had a history of other visual symptoms, like seeing things move out of the corner of her eye or seeing large ants crawling on her hands. She knew her visions weren't real and described them as a "brain disorder."

What Was Her Diagnosis?

Doctors performed tests, including a brain MRI, which showed some small white spots but nothing that would fully explain her condition. The doctors believed her symptoms, known as prosopometamorphopsia (PMO), were likely caused by abnormal electrical activity in the parts of her brain that process faces and colors. PMO is a very rare condition that was first described in 1947.

What Is The Disease That Mentally Distorts People’s Face?

According to Prosopagnosia Research Center, Prosopometamorphopsia (PMO) is a rare condition that makes people see faces as distorted. The name comes from Greek words meaning "face" (prosopo) and "perceptual distortion" (metamorphopsia).

The brain has a complex network of regions for processing faces. When there's a problem in this network, it can cause various issues, including PMO.

Unsurprisingly, living with PMO can be very upsetting for people. Most cases only last for a few days or weeks, but some people experience these distortions for years. Because only about 75 cases have been reported, we believe the condition is quite rare.

How Can You Treat People Who See Distorted Faces?

After a thorough evaluation, the doctors stopped her previous medications and started her on a new one called valproic acid. For the first time in her life, she had days with no symptoms. However, she started hearing loud bangs after falling asleep, so the doctors switched her medication to rivastigmine. This new drug controlled both her visual and new auditory symptoms well enough for her to function normally.

Thanks to the new treatment, her symptoms are under control. She has kept the same job for three years and her relationships with her colleagues have greatly improved.