1. Blok M, Jacobs FW, Videler AC, Geurts HM, Teunisse JP. From Diagnosis to Dialogue: a call for support of older adults with a late autism diagnosis. Gerontologist. 2025.

Although both in autism and gerontological research the attention for aging well with autism is growing, little attention has been paid to the impact of receiving an autism diagnosis in later life. This is unfortunate, as nowadays many of the older adults on the autism spectrum have spent most of their lives being unaware of their autism. Drawing on previous research, our combined personal and professional experiences, and the narratives of eighteen older adults diagnosed later in life (aged 60-77, 50% female), we argue that a late autism diagnosis necessitates a fundamental rethinking of aging, identity, personal relationships and appropriate support. Effective interventions must be tailored to the specific needs and strengths of this population, ensuring that late-diagnosed older adults with autism receive the recognition, understanding, and tools they require to navigate their lives with confidence and self-awareness. Our findings highlight the need for a conceptual shift in how gerontology understands and addresses autism among older adults. In addition, the narratives of the older adults informed the (co-)creation of a conversational tool designed to help older adults with autism articulate personal boundaries and aspirations. By fostering understanding and dialogue, this initiative extends beyond individual transformation to promote broader societal awareness and support.

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2. Edwards C, Love AM, Cai RY, Constable P, Love DC, Parmar K, Gowen E, Gibbs V. Understanding eye care access for autistic adults and families: A convergent mixed-methods study. Autism. 2025: 13623613251371509.

Autistic people face persistent barriers to accessing healthcare, yet little is known about their experiences receiving eye care, despite elevated rates of vision conditions. This convergent mixed-methods study explored the eye care experiences of 127 autistic adults and 69 parents of autistic children living in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Through an online survey incorporating both structured and open-ended items, we examined access patterns, perceived barriers and enablers, and unmet needs. Quantitative data revealed widespread challenges, including sensory discomfort, communication difficulties, and financial costs, while qualitative responses foregrounded how provider interaction, clinical pacing, and environmental conditions shaped overall experience. Although participants valued clearer communication and sensory-informed adjustments, these were described as insufficient in the face of structural barriers such as affordability and inaccessible service locations. These findings align with emerging models of autism-informed healthcare that advocate for systemic, rather than ad hoc, approaches to accessibility. Our results underscore the need for proactive, cross-sector solutions developed in partnership with autistic people, which embed neurodiversity-affirming principles into eye care design, delivery, and policy. Addressing these inequities is both an ethical and practical imperative if we are to ensure that eye care services are inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to diverse ways of being.Lay abstractAutistic people often face barriers when using healthcare services, but little is known about their experiences with eye care. This is important because autistic people are more likely to have vision problems like needing glasses, having a lazy eye, or having trouble with how their eyes work together. In this study, we asked 127 autistic adults and 69 parents of autistic children in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand about their experiences receiving eye care. People completed an online survey that included multiple-choice questions and space to describe their experiences in their own words. Many participants said that eye care could be stressful or confusing. Common challenges included unclear instructions, bright lights, noisy environments, feeling rushed, and staff not understanding autism. Some people avoided going to eye care professionals altogether because they could not afford glasses or found the environment too overwhelming. Participants said that small changes like using plain language, giving more time, and creating a calm environment helped make care more accessible. However, these small changes were not always enough, especially when services were too expensive or hard to get to. To improve access to eye care, changes need to happen at all levels, including how clinics are designed and how staff are trained. These changes should be made together with autistic people to make sure that services meet their needs and feel respectful and welcoming. This study shows the need to redesign eye care so that it works better for autistic people and their families.

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3. Hoffmann LV, Silva E, Roman LB, Castro K, Vilela AAF, Valle SC, Vaz JS. Meal patterns in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Nutrition. 2025; 141: 112932.

OBJECTIVES: Eating difficulties associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) influence food choices and mealtime routines, making it essential to investigate meal characteristics in this population. This study aimed to identify and examine factors associated with the meal patterns of children and adolescents with ASD. METHODS: A total of 361 patients diagnosed with ASD, aged 2 to under 19 years, were included. Dietary intake was assessed using three non-consecutive 24-hour recalls. Food items were grouped based on nutritional similarity. Principal component analyses were conducted for each meal (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner), with food group intake (g/d) as the input variable. Crude and adjusted regression models were used to evaluate the association of selected variables with meal patterns. RESULTS: Two patterns were identified for breakfast, while three were identified for lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner. Traditional Brazilian foods, including coffee, bread, rice, beans, and meat; and ultra-processed foods, such as fat spreads, biscuits, sweets, chips, beverages, and processed meat, were observed across meals. Fruits were absent from all patterns, while vegetables were identified in lunch and dinner patterns. The afternoon snack had the highest energy intake (30.3% of daily energy) and energy density (1.6 kcal/g) compared to the other meals. Sociodemographic variables, anthropometric status, and antipsychotic use were associated with adherence to most patterns. CONCLUSION: Meal patterns included traditional Brazilian foods and ultra-processed items. Given the influence of meal composition on health, these findings may support the development of nutritional interventions for this population.

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4. Malone D, Keating K, Ryan C. A Qualitative Exploration of the Experiences of Autistic Adolescent Girls and Their Mental Health Difficulties: A Transdiagnostic Approach. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

PURPOSE: Autistic girls have been underrepresented in research, which has traditionally focused on male-dominated samples. As a result, there is limited understanding of the unique mental health difficulties they experience and the challenges they encounter when accessing appropriate services. Adolescence is a significant developmental stage where girls can be more vulnerable due to biological, social, and psychological changes. This transitional period may be when girls present for an autism assessment or begin to experience significant mental health difficulties. METHODS: This qualitative study explored the mental health difficulties of six autistic adolescent girls attending Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Ireland. RESULTS: Following an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), three Group Experiential Themes (GETs) were identified: (1) Understanding the Relationship between Autism and Mental Health in Autistic Adolescent Girls, (2) Navigating Social Environments as an Autistic Adolescent Girl with Mental Health Difficulties, and (3) Disconnect between the Needs of Autistic Girls and their Support. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide valuable insights into the role of diagnosis in fostering self-understanding among autistic adolescent girls, while also highlighting how the interplay between autism and co-occurring mental health difficulties can complicate identity development during adolescence. The study reveals the unique challenges faced by autistic girls, alongside frustration with services not designed for their needs. Clinical implications include the need for more nuanced diagnostic practices and support systems that recognise the overlapping features of autism and mental health conditions in adolescent girls.

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5. O’Flaherty M, Gomersall S, Hill J, Fortnum K, Bourke M, Cairney J, Munns C, Simm P, Erlandson M. Bone Health in Autistic Children: Evidence from a Population-Representative Australian Cohort Study. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

PURPOSE: Autistic children have been shown to have poorer bone health than their non-autistic peers, but previous evidence on this topic has been based on small clinical samples and is limited by how bone health has been measured. The association between autism and bone health may also reflect confounding by correlated genetic or environmental factors, but prior studies have not addressed this issue. METHODS: We address these issues using data from a population-representative cohort of Australian children with bone health measured by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) for both children and parents. Data for 1,274 children (66 autistic, 1,208 non-autistic) aged 11-12 years (50% male) were drawn from the Child Health CheckPoint within the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. pQCT measures at the tibial diaphysis (ankle) and metaphysis (shin) were recorded using an identical protocol for children and one attending parent. Child autism was parent reported. Regression analyses were used to compare differences between autistic and non-autistic children, and between parents of autistic children and parents of non-autistic children. RESULTS: Our findings indicate poorer bone health as assessed by tibial pQCT among autistic children compared to non-autistic children at both the metaphysis and diaphysis. No differences in pQCT measures were found between parents of autistic and non-autistic children, suggesting no evidence of confounding by shared genetic or environmental factors. CONCLUSION: These findings reinforce the need to support improved bone development among autistic children and suggest that differences in bone health are likely driven by behavioural factors that are potentially amenable to intervention.

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6. Rujilekpanya C, Napa W, Thaweekoon T. Caregivers’ Experiences Taking Care of Children and Teenagers With Autism Spectrum Disorders During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand: A Qualitative Approach. J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Nurs. 2025; 38(4): e70036.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, children and teenagers with autism exhibited behavioral changes, which contributed to increased parenting stress. This study focused on caregivers’ experiences in Thailand, as they often lacked information on how to address these issues, and it may serve as a valuable source of essential information for further interventions for parents. PURPOSE: To explore caregivers’ experiences while caring for children and teenagers with autism. METHODOLOGY: The researcher conducted a qualitative study to explore caregivers’ experiences regarding caregiving for children and teenagers with autism during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 15 participants, who were caregivers, were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire until data saturation was achieved. The data set was transcribed verbatim by professionals and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: The participants’ experiences were reflected in four themes: (a) facing difficulties with behavioral changes; the caregivers faced the behaviors changing such as decreasing connecting behaviors, children’s self-stimulating behaviors, losing control of their eating, and time spent watching their screens (b) caring adaptation: caregivers adapted their caregiving strategies to manage child-developmental training and infection prevention; (c) confronting emotions: caregivers experienced anxiety and stress while caring for their children; and (d) assistance: caregivers received help from local volunteers who delivered food and medicine. CONCLUSION: The caregivers’ experiences included dealing with changing behaviors, adapting to care, and facing negative emotions while caring for their loved ones. Health professionals should provide parents with information about managing changing behaviors and reducing parenting stress. Additionally, they should deliver information via alternative platforms, such as telemedicine phone calls, when needed.

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7. Tao T, Fu W. The Effectiveness of Extended Reality Technology Interventions on Vocational Skills for Individuals with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities: A Meta-analysis. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

PURPOSE: Extended reality (XR) technology has emerged as a promising tool for vocational training by providing controlled, customizable learning environments. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of XR-based interventions in improving vocational skills for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). METHOD: A meta-analysis was conducted on 26 eligible studies (N = 642) employing pre-post experimental or controlled experimental designs, selected from an initial pool of 3,52 articles. Moderators included: (1) participants’ characteristics (disorder type, age, intelligence quotient, and co-occurring conditions), (2) technical characteristics (level of immersion and human-computer interaction), (3) intervention characteristics (assistance from human interventionist, intervention form, intervention intensity, including frequency, single-session duration, intervention period, total sessions, total duration), (4) target skills, and (5) measurement characteristics (evaluation methods and measurement tools). RESULTS: We found: (1) XR-based interventions demonstrated a medium overall effect size (SMD = 0.73, 95% CI [0.59, 0.87]) for vocational skills training among individuals with ASD and ID. (2) Based on the results of statistical power analysis, subgroup analyses were conducted for target skill types. We found interventions targeting employment outcomes showed significantly lower effect sizes than those targeting job hard skills, job soft skills, and adaptive psychological traits. Additionally, interventions targeting maladaptive psychological traits were significantly less effective than those targeting job soft skills. (3) Based on results of statistical power analysis, meta-regression was conducted for single-session duration and revealed no significant moderating effect. CONCLUSION: XR-based interventions show promise for improving vocational skills among individuals with ASD and ID, with effectiveness moderated by target skills. This meta-analysis highlights that improving employment for individuals with ASD and ID requires a multi-layered approach. We need to integrate technology optimization with inclusive policies and employment support.

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8. Turnage D, Conner N, Hinojosa M, Xie R, Nguyen T, Edwards J, Gordon A. Stress, Coping, and Quality of Life of Parents of Children with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

PURPOSE: Parents of children with autism are exposed to stressors associated with the daily care of raising a child with a developmental disability, which may negatively impact parental quality of life (QOL). The specific aim of this study was to examine the relationships between demographic factors, stress, and coping among parental caregivers of children with autism to determine whether predictors of QOL exist. METHODS: This study was descriptive, and an electronic survey was distributed to parents of children, age 3-21 years old, diagnosed with autism. The survey measured parent-reported demographic factors, severity of the child’s diagnosis of autism, parental stress, coping, and QOL. Data were analyzed using multiple regression. RESULTS: Study findings suggest that, in parental caregivers of children with autism in (N = 152) daily stressors, coping self-efficacy, and household income were predictors for physical QOL; daily stressors and coping self-efficacy were predictors of psychological QOL, and coping-self efficacy, household income, and severity of the diagnosis of the child were predictors for environmental QOL. CONCLUSION: Coping self-efficacy and improved income can positively improve QOL, while severity of the diagnosis of autism and daily stressors can negatively impact QOL. Clinically, nurses with a better understanding of the parental stress and coping in parents of children with autism can better recommend tailored resources to improve QOL. Policies to support financial help for families may also improve QOL. Future research should focus on interventions to support caregiver health.

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