Healthy aging for adults on the autism spectrum
Toward Healthy Aging in Adults with Autism: A Longitudinal Clinical and Multimodal Brain Imaging Study
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · NIH-11117170
This project follows autistic and non-autistic adults over time to learn how physical health, mental health, thinking skills, and the brain change with age.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (MADISON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11117170 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, you would be followed over several years with regular health checkups, thinking and mood tests, and brain scans. The project also collects blood samples to look at biological markers of aging and includes siblings and matched non-autistic adults for comparison. Visits are coordinated across an Autism Center of Excellence network using a shared protocol so data can be compared across sites. The team aims to track both group trends and individual changes to understand who does better or worse as they age.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are autistic adults aged 21 and older, including both men and women, as well as siblings and age- and sex-matched non-autistic adults for comparison.
Not a fit: Children and people under 21, or anyone unable or unwilling to attend imaging and follow-up visits, would not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help clinicians spot health risks earlier and develop better supports and care plans for autistic adults as they get older.
How similar studies have performed: Prior population studies have shown increased health risks in autistic adults, but large longitudinal studies combining brain imaging and biological aging measures are relatively new and less common.
Where this research is happening
MADISON, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON — MADISON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LAINHART, JANET ELIZABETH — UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- Study coordinator: LAINHART, JANET ELIZABETH
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.