Autism tops the list of global health issues affecting children and youth.

A recent study published in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry indicates that in 2021, approximately 62 million individuals faced autism spectrum disorder.

“Our estimates suggest that in 2021, one in 127 people worldwide experienced autism, which places autism spectrum disorder among the top ten causes of non-fatal health burden for children and youth under 20,” claims the research team led by Damian Santomauro, an associate professor at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.

These figures highlight the critical importance of early autism diagnosis, enabling children to receive therapies that can assist them throughout their lives.

“It is essential to consider not only the needs of children and adolescents with autism but also the adults who are often underrepresented in research and healthcare programs for this condition,” the researchers write.

The researchers note that children with autism may find holidays such as Christmas and New Year particularly challenging. When it comes to festive occasions filled with noise and seasonal colors, sounds, smells, guests in the home, and changes in routine and environment can be overwhelming, stressful, and frightening for a child with autism.

To conduct the study, the scientists combined data from 105 studies on autism conducted across 33 countries.

The researchers discovered that autism rates have significantly increased—from one in 127 people in 2021 to one in 271 people in 2019—but noted that this rise is primarily attributed to changes in detection and assessment methods for autism.

This rate is much higher than the current figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which report one in every 36 children, the researchers point out.

“This higher prevalence level was established based on an analysis of medical records from clinical and educational documents to determine whether individuals met the diagnostic criteria for probable autism spectrum disorder,” the article states. “Since individuals did not undergo clinical assessments for autism spectrum disorder (as is done in population diagnostic surveys), this method may inflate the prevalence of such disorders.”

The prevalence of autism among men is twice that of women, the researchers add—1065 cases per 100,000 men compared to 508 per 100,000 women. These figures are lower than the current CDC estimates, which suggest that autism is nearly four times more common in boys than in girls.

The study also revealed that the prevalence of autism decreases with age.

“To address the global burden of autism spectrum disorder, priority resources must be allocated to early detection programs, including improved diagnostic tools, especially for adults and residents of low- and middle-income countries who have limited access to care, support services, and services that cater to the changing needs of autistic individuals throughout their lives,” the researchers conclude in a press release from the University of Washington.