A global study has revealed that one in every 127 people, or approximately 61.8 million individuals, were on the autism spectrum in 2021. Autism emerged as one of the top 10 causes of non-fatal health burdens among people under 20 years of age, according to the findings.

The condition, characterized by repetitive behaviors and challenges in social communication, often shows signs as early as 12 months of age. Common indicators include poor non-verbal communication, such as avoiding eye contact or not responding to their name.

Published in The Lancet Psychiatry, the study highlighted a significant gender disparity, with autism rates in men being more than double those in women. Globally, there were 1,065 cases per 100,000 men compared to 508 cases per 100,000 women.

The estimates are part of the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) Study, a comprehensive initiative coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, USA, which evaluates health-related losses worldwide over time.

High-income regions in Asia Pacific, including Japan, reported the highest prevalence rates at 1,560 cases per 100,000 population. In contrast, regions like Tropical Latin America and Bangladesh recorded the lowest rates, the researchers noted.

The study underscored the critical need for early detection and better support systems for autistic individuals and their caregivers. The authors also emphasized the importance of refining the accuracy of autism prevalence data, particularly regarding geographical variations.

“This research can inform future studies and, crucially, guide the allocation of healthcare services to address the diverse needs of autistic individuals,” the authors concluded.