Autism Diagnosis at 70 Offers Clarity for Andrew Davies

Throughout his life, Andrew Davies experienced a feeling of not belonging, believing himself to be “broken,” “weird,” or inherently flawed. This perception persisted until he received an autism diagnosis at 70 years old. “It’s just who I am and how my brain is wired… how I experience the world is just different,” he said. Studies indicate that numerous individuals, similar to Andrew, have lived for decades unaware they are on the autistic spectrum. A study analyzing primary care records in England estimates that between 250,000 and 600,000 people over 50 in England might be autistic but remain undiagnosed. Researchers involved in the study noted this would imply that over 90% of autistic individuals aged over 50 are undiagnosed. Andrew commented, “Autism was seen for many years as a childhood condition but it’s a lifelong condition and as people get older they remain autistic.” Andrew, currently 72, concluded a distinguished career by retiring in 2019. He served as a minister during the initial 10 years of the Welsh government and represented Swansea West as an assembly member (presently known as Member of the Senedd, or MS) from 1999 to 2011. Following his departure from the assembly, he held the position of chairman for the entity then known as Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board for a period of six years. This career path might seem unconventional for an individual who states they have “often struggled understanding and dealing with other people.” Andrew, a resident of Mount Pleasant, Swansea, explained, “I can be in a group and it’s keeping up with conversations, knowing what to say… it’s not knowing the rules of small talk.” Since childhood, he favored solitude and individual friendships over group interactions. This preference became more challenging to manage during secondary school. “I just completely struggled really,” he recounted. “I felt there was something broken, there was something weird, something wrong.” While he found the social conventions and structure of professional life more manageable, he frequently felt “bombarded” and “peopled out” by the conclusion of an extended workday. He remarked, “I suspect people may have thought ‘oh he’s pretty standoffish’ but it’s a combination of shyness and not knowing what to say.” Andrew also experiences heightened sensory sensitivity. He mentioned, “Discos and rock concerts I never really enjoyed, I found the sound for example and the lights almost overwhelming and uncomfortable.” Various other sensory inputs, including the sound of his wife popping chewing gum or a neighbor’s dog barking, certain smells like congealed fat or grease, and sights such as fluorescent lights, have consistently caused him significant discomfort. “I just have to get away,” he stated. “You try to ignore it but it’s a physical, visceral reaction.” A characteristic that consistently benefited him professionally, he now understands to be another autistic trait: intense interests, also referred to as hyperfixations. He explained that he frequently became deeply engrossed in subjects that captured his interest, dedicating himself to thorough research. “I want to really get to know that issue in depth whereas most people will think ‘that’s interesting’ and move on,” he commented. He noted that researching autism had turned into “yet another rabbit hole I’ve disappeared down.” This inclination towards deep engagement in subjects was what he initially recognized as a potential autistic trait within himself. He was conversing with a colleague who had recently received an autism diagnosis. The colleague recounted that a consultant psychiatrist, with whom he had been working, had privately told him: “I hope you don’t mind me saying this but you’ve got all the classic signs of autism.” Upon recognizing a similarity between his colleague’s meticulous research and extensive emails and his own habits, “the penny dropped.” Andrew began reading and listening to podcasts concerning autism, subsequently opting to complete the online questionnaire developed by psychologist Prof Simon Baron-Cohen. “I came out very firmly in the middle of the spectrum,” he reported. He then chose to pursue a formal diagnosis, found the NHS waiting period to be three to four years, and ultimately sought private care. What significance does receiving this diagnosis hold for him? “It was just having that confirmation really… I wasn’t broken or weird, or something wrong, it’s just who I am and how my brain is wired,” he explained. “When you get to this age you look back on your life, from role to soul.” “I think it helps you come to terms with things that have happened in your life.” Andrew has suffered from depression since his adolescence; the National Autistic Society indicates that research suggests autistic individuals might be more prone to depression than non-autistic individuals. Additionally, he has undergone periods of poor health which he now attributes to autistic burnout. Statistics indicate that individuals over 50 are not receiving autism diagnoses at a rate comparable to children; one in 34 children have an autism diagnosis, whereas only 1 in 6,000 adults over 50 do. Dr Gavin Stewart, a research fellow at King’s College London specializing in aging and autism spectrum disorders, stated, “There’s likely to be a very large underserved population who deserve to have the support they need.” He explained that a factor contributing to older individuals remaining undiagnosed is that in the 1960s, during their youth, autism was considered a very uncommon condition, “whereas today it is viewed in a far more common way and the prevalence rates reflect that.” He noted that for many older individuals, obtaining a diagnosis served as a “lightbulb moment,” enabling them to better comprehend their life experiences and also facilitating access to assistance and support, such as from employers or residential care providers. He expressed a desire for clinicians in older adult services to be more proficient at identifying undiagnosed autistic individuals. “We know that autistic people often need additional help and support throughout their lives to support them with their mental health and ensure they’re living happy lives,” he affirmed. “Having the right help and support could be a real key factor in ensuring that they’re ageing well and I think that everyone is entitles to have the best life that they can.” Information and support regarding autism can be accessed through BBC Action Line. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external sites. Details on our approach to external linking are available.