What is the lifetime cost of autism? - asked Perplexity AI Dec 2024
The lifetime cost of supporting an individual with autism varies significantly based on several factors. For individuals with autism without intellectual disabilities, the cost is approximately $1.4 million in both the United States and United Kingdom 1 4
For those with autism and intellectual disabilities, the cost increases to $2.4 million in the US and $2.2 million in the UK 1 4
Major Cost Components
Healthcare Expenses
Medical care for children with autism ranges from $6,467 to $18,106 annually, while adult medical costs range from $13,580 to $27,159 per year 1
Education and Treatment
Special education costs are significantly higher than medical care, ranging from $13,980 to $62,920 per year 1
Behavioral interventions can cost $40,000 to $60,000 per child annually 2
Lost Wages and Productivity
- Parents lose an average of $18,720 annually caring for children with autism 1
- Adults with autism face lost wages of approximately $10,718 per year 1
- Mothers of autistic children earn 56% less than mothers of children without health problems 8
Adult Care
Residential care represents the largest expense for adults with autism, costing between $18,080 and $36,161 annually 1
The total cost for adult services in the United States ranges from $175 billion to $196 billion per year 4
Economic Impact Trends
The societal costs of autism are projected to increase significantly. From 1990 to 2019, approximately 2 million new cases resulted in social costs exceeding $7 trillion 8
By 2025, the total cost of care for children and adults with autism is expected to reach $461 billion if more effective interventions are not established 8
What are the main factors driving the high cost of autism? - asked Perplexity AI Dec 2024
The high cost of autism is driven by several key factors:
Direct Medical Costs
Healthcare Expenses
Medical care costs range from $6,467 to $18,106 annually for children and $13,580 to $27,159 for adults with autism 1
These expenses increase significantly when comorbidities are present, particularly intellectual disabilities 2
Educational and Therapeutic Costs
Special Education
Educational costs significantly exceed medical expenses, ranging from $13,980 to $62,920 per year 1
Specialized behavioral interventions can cost $40,000 to $60,000 annually per child 5
Adult Care Expenses
Residential Services
Adult residential care represents the largest expense component, costing between $18,080 and $36,161 annually 1
This becomes particularly significant over an individual's lifetime.
Lost Productivity
Family Impact
- Parents lose an average of $18,720 annually due to reduced work hours or leaving employment 1
- Mothers experience a 56% reduction in earnings compared to mothers of children without health conditions 1
- Adults with autism face approximately $10,718 in annual lost wages 1
Cost Variations
Severity and Comorbidity
The lifetime cost varies significantly based on intellectual disability:
- $1.4 million for individuals without intellectual disabilities
- $2.4 million for those with intellectual disabilities 4
Socioeconomic Factors
Healthcare costs are particularly impacted by:
- Lack of health insurance
- Lower socioeconomic status
- Severity of symptoms
- Younger age groups 7
VitaminDWiki – Autism has been proven to be both prevented and treated by Vitamin D
Autism category has - see also Overview Autism and vitamin D, Autoimmune , Cognitive, ADHD
Interesting Autistic studies
Autism associated with low Vitamin D
- Most Autism Risk factors are associated with low vitamin D - March 2014
- Rickets – 26 percent had autism: no rickets, no autism (both associated with low vitamin D) – June 2015
- Autistics have half of the response to Vitamin D – RCT Oct 2018
- Vitamin D fights autism - trying to figure out how and why – May 2022
Autism TREATED by Vitamin D
- Autism in children reduced by Vitamin D (used 300 IU per kg per day) – RCT Oct 2016
- Autism treated by Vitamin D (monthly injection of 150,000 IU) – June 2017
- Autism decreased in 8 out of 10 children supplemented with vitamin D – April 2015
Autism PREVENTED by vitamins before and during pregnancy
- Autism risk is reduced by Vitamin D – early pregnancy or chlldhood – Umbrella review – July 2024
- Vitamin D and autism - treat: 300 IU per kg per day, prevent: during pregnancy 5,000 IU – Feb 2017
- Autism reduced 24% for each 4 ng more Vitamin D while pregnant ( ADHD 12%) – Feb 2024
- Autism rate cut in half when multivitamins (including vitamin D) used during pregnancy – Oct 2017
- Autism risk reduced 2X by prenatal vitamins (Vitamin D or Folic) – Feb 2019
- Autism 3X more likely after closely spaced pregnancy vs 3 year apart– Jan 2011
- Low Vitamin D decreases fertility and increases subsequent autism, ADHD, etc – Feb 2018
- Women who had supplemented with any vitamins were 6 X less likely to have autistic offspring – Jan 2018
- Autism rate in siblings reduced 4X by vitamin D: 5,000 IU during pregnancy, 1,000 IU to infants – Feb 2016
Autism and Vitamin D Receptor (not enough Vit D gets to the cells)
This list is automatically updated
- More than 30% of Autistics also have ADHD - Nov 2024
- Autism treated by an activator of the Vitamin D Receptor: supforaphane - March 2024
- Autism may be synergistically treated by Vitamin D and probiotics – July 2022
- Autism 2X to 3X more likely if poor Vitamin D Receptor – June 2020
- A good Vitamin D Receptor (or perhaps more vitamin D) protects against lead during pregnancy
- Autism much more likely if poor Vitamin D Receptor – many studies
Autism - other risk factors
- Autistic symptoms reduced by Vitamin D and or Omega-3 – RCT March 2019
- Autism risk increased if infant had antibiotics (2X), acetaminophen (3X), or no vitamin D drops (1.5X) – June 2018
- 20 X more Parkinson's and 100X more Autism with GMO soy in China
- Note >100X increase in Autism while having GMO soy in the US
- Fewer neurons in males born from COVID-19 vaccinated mothers (rats) - Jan 2024
- Vaccinations resulted in increased office visits for children 16 months later - Nov 2020
- Does a vaccine increase the risk of Autism – March 2019
- Autism 2.75 X more likely in Hib vaccines containing Mercury – May 2018
- Vaccinated children had more chronic diseases - Sept 2018
- Autism and ADHD type disorders were 14X more likely in survey of extreme preterm vaccinated infants - April 2017
Dr. Cannell on Autism and Vitamin D in VitaminDWiki
- Autism treated by Vitamin D (80 – 120 ng) – Cannell update May 2018
- Autism Causes, Prevention and Treatment: Vitamin D Deficiency etc. – Book April 2015 Cannell
- Autism cured in a child with Vitamin D, Dr. Cannell comments and cofactor recommendations – March 2015
- Autism and Vitamin D - Dr. Cannell in Life Extension Mag - Jan 2014
- Autism treated by Vitamin D: Dr. Cannell - video June 2013
- includes his list of 27 reasons to associate Vitamin D with Autism in 2013
- Many autistic children are getting some Vitamin D, Omega-3, probiotics, etc. – Aug 2019
- Autistic symptoms reduced by Vitamin D and or Omega-3 – RCT March 2019
- Omega-3 probably can decrease Autism and ADHD – March 2019
- Autism treated in one person by Omega-3 plus Vitamin D – Dec 2018
- Autism problems reduced by Vitamin D, Omega-3 – RCT Oct 2018
- ADHD, Autism, Early Psychosis and Omega-3 – review Dec 2017
- Autism risks include chemicals, deficiency of vitamin D, Omega-3 – mini-review April 2016
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