Autism diagnoses rising in women while male rates remain flat

A study published in JAMA Network Open reveals a significant shift in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses. Researchers analyzing medical records from a large U.S. health system between 2016 and 2024 found that while diagnoses among males have remained flat or declined, diagnoses among females increased sharply after 2020, rising by 19% annually between 2020 and 2024.

The research highlights a persistent gender gap in detection. On average, women and girls are diagnosed approximately 3.4 years later than men and boys. Experts suggest this trend does not necessarily indicate a sudden increase in autism prevalence, but rather improved recognition of a demographic that has historically been overlooked due to screening tools being primarily designed around male behavioral patterns.

The study utilized data from a multistate health system covering Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin to track these temporal patterns and identify inflection points in diagnosis rates.