Autistics die a lot younger then the general population

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Autism didn't cause your health problems, ASS-P. Your stressful lifestyle did.

I bet if they did a longitudinal study of NT's and autistic people who have lived your lifestyle, they would find that their respective life expectancies are quite similar.

Please note that I'm not saying it's your fault. It's just the truth as I see it.

Also of note: you're not dead yet.

And I believe you'll live longer than you think.

So they compared a patient registry with a general population registry? - and what kind of patient registry? Could you post their sampling technique please? It will be in the method section.

In order for this study to be credible, the researchers have to provide us with the background of every participant. Autism is a vast spectrum.

It's important to provide us with the co-morbidities of the participants as well.

Otherwise, it doesn't mean squat.

Suppose all the "autistic" people in the study also had Fragile X or something? And suppose that wasn't revealed? Suppose they presented us with a generalized "autistic" population?

No, the first thing a capable peer reviewer would look at in assessing the credibility would be this: whether the target samples were drawn randomly or not. If they were not, then there are big problems with statistically evaluating the data.

Of course. Double-blind random studies.

But it has to go beyond that, though.

Most of the studies I've seen of "autistic" people did not provide me with evidence that it is thought of as being a Spectrum, rather than a single disorder with similar functioning levels among the people with the disorder.

If you don't have one of these genetic disorders that shortens lifespan or some severe epilepsy that may cause sudden death, then I wouldn't worry about early death due to autism. It seems pointless to worry about what you don't have, regardless if some of the people in the study did.

I would really listen to the person immediately above me.

She's done lots of pertinent research.

Sounds like a lot in a day. If you're on antidepressants, you may be courting serotonin poisoning.

I suggest you take a look at what you're getting and try to determine CBD and THC quantities/ratio. You may be smoking so much because your body/mind responds well to the CBD and you're not getting enough in the type you're buying.

The THC is what will increase serotonin so MJ that's higher in THC is going to react with antidepressants.

I suggest you determine what works and try to secure that type when "shopping".

Good luck.

Last edited by Dinosaw on 14 Mar 2016, 8:49 pm, edited 3 times in total.

After a certain age there doesn't seem to much reason for sticking around way longer if you don't have something keeping you going

like 80 or 90 or 100 seems absolutely crazy

You're still young. I thought that way when I was your age.

But really: this topic is very important.

I don't believe people should sign off from WP today believing that their autism alone will lead to a reduced lifespan.

Last edited by kraftiekortie on 14 Mar 2016, 6:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I'm offended by your taking offense to the original poster in this thread. First, he is a "veteran" with much more service to this community than you have had. Second, people who accuse others of trolling are often trolls themselves. Third, he is offering something for discussion and did not do the research himself, but it's a valid observation and we shouldn't stick our heads in the sand rather than acknowledging the very real threats to our wellbeing. Fourth, he might be forgiven for a preoccupation with death given that he is facing a very serious cancer threat himself.

You're a newcomer to this forum. If you don't like what our more senior members offer, you can always go somewhere else, or you can do what all newcomers anywhere are advised to do - sit and watch quietly until you catch on to the culture of the place.

OP wrote: "On a personal note I have lasted longer then the life expectancy for HFA's."

The article quotes only a cited percentage as the mean of the sample - not at all the same thing as life expectancy. Unfortunately we can't draw all that much from the mean without knowing the nature of the distribution coupled with the rate of standard error (as well as the sampling technique)

i enjoy life. the longer the better. i plan to work at least until i'm 70. when i retire, i have music and writing and time with my funny agreeable spouse. i want to live to 100 so i can go on TV and tell people that the secret is eating your veggies.

Yep, Cathylynn! That's the way to think!

I mean that.

I want to live to 100, too. But I want to tell people that eating red meat kept me around!

Last edited by kraftiekortie on 14 Mar 2016, 6:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I can only speak for myself, but yes, in my case autism has wreaked havoc on my health.

Autism can lead to social isolation and extreme difficulty in functioning - which, without diagnosis or support, can very easily lead to feelings of utter hopelessness and suicide, which plagued me from age 7 until my diagnosis at 40.

Autism often causes sleep problems. Insomnia is associated with a shortened life span.

Autism is associated with GI problems, and restricted diet. A sub-optimal diet, due to an inability to tolerate more than a few different foods, can contribute to health problems, leading to a shortened life span.

Autism is associated with difficulty in communicating. Difficulty in communicating with doctors can lead to serious medical conditions going undiagnosed and untreated - leading to poor health, and shortened life span.

Autism is associated with sensory overload, often stressing a person to the breaking point. Stress leads to all sorts of health problems, which can contribute to a shortened life span.

I'm certain there are those here who would blame me for all of this. I should have known better. I should have gotten help. I should have reached out for support, in the 40 years that I went undiagnosed.

But the truth is that autism causes a person to not know better. To not understand how the world works. To not know how to reach out for help. To not even understand one's own feelings - physical or emotional - let alone be able to explain them to anyone else. And all of this can lead to stress and health problems, which can absolutely shorten one's life span.

I'm not saying this to complain, or blame anyone else. I accept my reality, and I'm grateful to still be alive at this point. Now that I understand what I'm dealing with, I'm doing my best to get the help that I need. But the truth is that autism has contributed to some very serious health problems in my case, and will result in a shortened life span.

But you weren't BORN with a reduce lifespan.

Now that you have insight, you could reverse all which is ailing you.

My mother has Crohn's (or perhaps ulcerative colitis), and she's almost 82. She broke her shoulder recently, and has almost completely recovered in eight weeks.

She's had psychological problems all her life. She recently mentioned that she might have a "touch of Aspergers." She won't go and get diagnosed, though.

Her attitude is not the greatest all the time--but she's survived this far.