Improving care and support for autistic adults as they age
Advancing the System of Care for Autistic Older Adults
This project will look at health, mental health, and service needs of autistic adults aged 40 and older using national Medicare and Medicaid records plus surveys and interviews with autistic adults and their caregivers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180132 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of a national effort that combines government insurance records with surveys and interviews to map health trends as autistic people get older. Researchers will analyze Medicare and Medicaid claims to identify medical and neurological conditions that appear with age, and they will ask autistic adults and caregivers about service experiences and needs. The team aims to find gaps in care, costs, and supports that affect quality of life. Findings are intended to help clinicians, caregivers, and policymakers improve services for older autistic adults.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Autistic adults aged 40 and older—especially those enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid—and their family caregivers are the ideal participants for the surveys and interviews.
Not a fit: Children, autistic adults under 40, or people not represented in Medicare/Medicaid data may not see direct benefits from this specific project right away.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better-targeted services, earlier detection of age-related conditions, and improved quality of life for autistic adults and their families.
How similar studies have performed: Most prior autism research has focused on children, so this large, claims-linked survey and interview approach is relatively novel though claims analyses and surveys have been informative in other aging populations.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Drexel University — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shea, Lindsay Lawer — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Shea, Lindsay Lawer
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.