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Chickenbird
Deinonychus
Deinonychus

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Joined: 25 Dec 2010
Gender: Female
Posts: 317
Location: New Zealand

29 Jul 2014, 11:14 pm

I'm in my 50s, married, and doing okay. I have what I call a
"socialising heart dog" and I recommend a dog to anyone on the
spectrum, they are so great.

But I have often been afraid of the future.

Lately I've been thinking that aspergers will probably lead to my death
through malnutrition or exposure, once I become so old that I can't
cook for myself and my inability to befriend caregivers starts
to matter.

However, I am no longer willing to "try harder". So be it.
People die from things all the time. I'm on this earth to be
an occupant, not a hostage.

Just wanted to get that off my chest :p


_________________
"Aspie: 65/200
NT: 155/200
You are very likely neurotypical"
Changed score with attention to health. Still have AS traits and also some difficulties.


one-A-N
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Joined: 2 Mar 2010
Age: 69
Gender: Male
Posts: 883
Location: Sydney

29 Jul 2014, 11:59 pm

I am nearly sixty and I don't think there is that much research about Asperger's and aging.

I suspect that we can become more Aspie, more autistic, as we age - it could become harder to "fake normal".

Since I got my diagnosis a few years ago, I have been more aware of my Aspie characteristics, and probably don't try as hard to "blend in" with the NTs around me.

I do wonder about things like nursing homes and the like, and being an Aspie.

Having had a special interest in the autism spectrum since becoming aware that I am on it, I have learned so much, but the average person still knows very little, even though the incidence of ASD has risen from 1 in 2,500 to 1 in 88. I wonder if telling a carer I have AS will make any difference - or rather, will it do any good? It might just make a carer more defensive when dealing with me, if I ever get into such a care facility.



ASPartOfMe
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Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 66
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Posts: 34,245
Location: Long Island, New York

30 Jul 2014, 1:37 am

one-A-N wrote:
I am nearly sixty and I don't think there is that much research about Asperger's and aging.

I suspect that we can become more Aspie, more autistic, as we age - it could become harder to "fake normal".

Since I got my diagnosis a few years ago, I have been more aware of my Aspie characteristics, and probably don't try as hard to "blend in" with the NTs around me.

I do wonder about things like nursing homes and the like, and being an Aspie.

Having had a special interest in the autism spectrum since becoming aware that I am on it, I have learned so much, but the average person still knows very little, even though the incidence of ASD has risen from 1 in 2,500 to 1 in 88. I wonder if telling a carer I have AS will make any difference - or rather, will it do any good? It might just make a carer more defensive when dealing with me, if I ever get into such a care facility.


Some even here will delegitimize what we have to say because there is nothing resembling peer reviewed studies to validate it. While I would much much prefer proper peer reviewed scientific study there seems little prospect of it happening so all we got is ourselves to figure it out and help each other

Yes I do think autism and the aging process enhance each other. The diagnosis has slowed it and even somewhat reverted the decline but I am not what I was as far as masking is concerned. The most frustrating thing is losing ability in core Aspie strengths like hyperfocus. The idea of being 80 and broke on the streets scares the s**t out of me because it seems very realistic.


_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity

“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman