New study shows high cost of autism for UK

The economic cost of supporting patients with autism over the course of their lifetime is much higher than previously thought, a newly-published study has revealed.

Research carried out by Autistica and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics has revealed 1.5 million pounds are spent in the UK on individuals with the highest needs.

Autism costs the UK more than heart disease, stroke and cancer combined, with 32 billion pounds a year spent in terms of treatment, lost earnings and care and support for children and adults.

However, despite this, only 6.60 pounds per person is spent on autism research in Britain, compared with 295 pounds on cancer, suggesting this field needs to be treated as a higher priority.

Lead researcher Professor Martin Knapp of the London School of Economics and Political Science said: "We need to use our resources earlier, identify people earlier and try to provide therapies and support that makes it easier to manage the condition."

In the UK, it's estimated that about one in every 100 people has an autism spectrum disorder. There is no "cure" for the condition, but there are a wide range of different therapy approaches available.