Study Highlights Gender Gap Narrowing and Rising Diagnoses Among Diverse Racial and Ethnic Groups
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reports a 175% increase in autism diagnoses in the U.S. between 2011 and 2022, driven by a significant rise in cases among young adults. Researchers from Kaiser Permanente’s Division of Research analyzed health records for over 12 million people, noting a 450% surge in diagnoses among adults aged 26 to 34. Consistent with other research, this study reports that boys are diagnosed with autism at four times the rate of girls. However, it also demonstrated that the gender gap is narrowing, with diagnoses among girls increasing by 305% in children and 315% in adults. The highest rates of autism were found in children aged 5 to 8, with more significant increases seen among children from racial and ethnic minority groups. The authors attribute the rise in diagnoses to greater awareness, advocacy, and expanded screening practices, as well as changes in diagnostic criteria, such as the broader definition of autism in the DSM-5. However, they also suggest that environmental factors and shifts in screening policies may contribute to the increase, emphasizing the need for greater healthcare services for the growing population of individuals with autism.
