The Rising Cost of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism costs estimated to reach nearly $500 billion, potentially $1 trillion, by 2025

costs-of-autism infographic
The study senior author Paul Leigh hopes his findings inspire policy changes that emphasize early intervention to reduce ASD symptoms, along with employment and other programs that support the independence of adults with the disorder.

UC Davis health economists have for the first time projected the total costs of caring for all people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the U.S. for the current calendar year and in 10 years if effective interventions and preventive treatments for the condition are not identified and widely available.

Their forecasts for ASD-related medical, nonmedical and productivity losses are $268 billion for 2015 and $461 billion for 2025. The researchers noted that these estimates are conservative and, if ASD prevalence continues to increase as it has in recent years, the costs could reach $1 trillion by 2025.

Read Autism costs estimated to reach nearly $500 billion, potentially $1 trillion, by 2025
ucdmc.ucdavis, July 28, 2015.

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