Autism Linked to 14-Year Gap in Life Expectancy, Driven by Preventable Causes

A large Medicaid/CHIP analysis (2000–2020) found that people with autism have a life expectancy at birth of 64.9 years—about 5.6 years shorter than other Medicaid recipients and 13.8 years shorter than the general population. Excess mortality centers on preventable causes like influenza, malnutrition, drowning, and pneumonia. While overall life expectancy rose during the study period, the gap persisted. The researchers urge better health care, vaccinations, nutrition support, and community-based services to reduce these deaths.