This week, Autism Speaks issued the first in a series of annual, in-depth reports on special topics in autism – Autism and Health: Advances in Understanding and Treating the Health Conditions that Frequently Accompany Autism.

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The last decade has brought tremendous advances in understanding and addressing the many physical and mental health conditions that frequently accompany autism. We now know that autism is a whole-body disorder for many people on the spectrum. Its common co-morbidities include epilepsy, gastrointestinal distress, sleep disturbances, eating and feeding challenges, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

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While each new piece of high-quality research adds to our understanding of autism, it also adds to the complexity of developing the best practices to address the diverse needs of the autism community.

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So in this, our inaugural special report, we have gathered the most-authoritative research on autism-associated health conditions and the latest guidelines on treatment and support for those affected by them.

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This report – and much of the research behind it – would not be possible without the passion and generosity of our community of volunteers, donors and families.

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You can download a copy of the 35-page report from our website here.