Understanding healthy aging in adults with autism
Official title: Toward Healthy Aging in Adults with Autism: A Longitudinal Clinical and Multimodal Brain Imaging Study
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-10875412 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how getting older affects adults with autism by tracking their health and brain changes over time, and it includes both autistic and non-autistic people to see what helps or hinders their well-being as they age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $2,283,568 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH132218-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10875412 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 21 years old or do not have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how aging affects adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by following a large group of autistic individuals over time. The study aims to assess various aspects of health and wellness, including mental and physical health, cognitive function, and brain structure through advanced imaging techniques. Participants will include both autistic adults and non-autistic individuals for comparison, allowing researchers to identify factors that contribute to better or worse health outcomes as they age. The study employs a comprehensive and harmonized approach to gather data on clinical severity, cognitive aging, and biological aging.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes and quality of life for aging adults with autism.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding aging in autistic populations, but this study aims to provide a more comprehensive and longitudinal perspective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lainhart, Janet Elizabeth — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Lainhart, Janet Elizabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Healthy aging for adults on the autism spectrum
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.
-
MyGoals for Healthy Aging among people at risk for Alzheimer’s dementia
A multi-center trial tests whether a combined program addressing poverty-related stress and executive function can slow aging and reduce risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease in adults.
-
Healthy aging in Black adults and its links to dementia risk
This grant follows a large group of Black adults to understand how aging, brain health, and life experiences influence Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
-
How early-life spending shape aging and dementia risk later in life
A Stanford-led study looks at how state and county spending in childhood may influence midlife thinking skills and the risk of dementia in later life.
-
Costa Rica long-lived older adults follow-up (Wave 4)
We will re-contact Costa Rican adults aged 70 and older (and their spouses) to collect health, thinking, and blood information to find what helps people live longer and stay mentally sharp.
-
Mapping tiny blood vessels in the brain's memory area and how they relate to Alzheimer's changes
Researchers are using ultra-high-resolution brain scans and tissue staining to map tiny blood vessels in the entorhinal cortex to learn how those patterns relate to Alzheimer's disease.
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.