Study Links Autism to Higher Parkinsonism Risk in Older Adults

• A large new study found that older adults diagnosed with autism face a significantly higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease-related movement disorders.
• Researchers analyzed Medicare and Medicaid claims data covering nearly 57 million Americans aged 45 and older between 2017 and 2019.
• The study was published in the journal Autism.
• Individuals on the autism spectrum showed a higher incidence of Parkinson’s disease-related movement disorders compared to the general population.
• The findings highlight the need for further research and potential targeted interventions for this demographic.