People With ADHD And Autism May Be 4x Likelier To Face Tissue Disorders

Posted on 29/08/2026 by Boris Clair

We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about the higher incidence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, among women with ADHD.

But according to a new analysis, it seems neurodivergent people of all genders might be more likely to face a group of conditions known as connective tissue disorders.

The finding, which is based on health data from 117 million US adults and teens aged 15 and over, found that the issues were “consistently more common” among people who weren’t neurodivergent, and “were most likely for patients who were diagnosed with ASD [autism] and ADHD”.

What are connective tissue disorders?

These include many diseases and disorders that affect the tissue that supports our organs, body structure, and muscles. They might impact people’s bones, ligaments, skin, cartilage, and tendons.

Per the Cleveland Clinic, “as these tissues are in almost every part of your body, connective tissue diseases can also affect you all over. They might affect one or two types of tissues throughout your body or many. They can also affect many organs”.

Connective tissue disorders can present as hypermobility (being able to move your joints or body parts outside of their usual range), Ehlers-Danlos and Marfan syndrome, and inflammatory conditions like lupus.

How much more likely are people with ADHD and autism to have connective tissue disorders?

This analysis suggested that the breakdown was as follows:

People with both ADHD and autism were 4.38x more likely to have an inherited structural connective tissue disorder and 3.4x likelier to have a hypermobility spectrum disorder,
People with ADHD only were 1.7x more likely to have an inherited structural connective tissue disorder and 1.48x likelier to have a hypermobility spectrum disorder,
People with autism only were 3.11x more likely to have an inherited structural connective tissue disorder and 2.03x likelier to have a hypermobility spectrum disorder.

Overall, connective tissue disorders were still relatively rare in these groups – heritable structural disorders were seen in roughly 12 out of 1,000 autism-only patients and 21 per 1,000 patients with both ADHD and autism.

But that’s a big leap from the comparison sample without either ADHD or autism – among those, the disorders appeared in 3 or 4 per 1,000 cases.

Previous research had suggested that “In neurodivergent adults, there is a strong link between the expression of joint hypermobility, dysautonomia, and pain, more so than in the comparison group”.

Some studies have shown that people with the connective tissue disorder Ehlers-Danlos syndrome are more likely to have autism and/or ADHD.

5 Physical Signs You’re Facing Chronic Stress, According To A Psychologist

Posted on 29/08/2026 by Boris Clair

A majority of UK adults say they’ve dealt with stress so intense that it’s left them feeling completely overwhelmed.

And chronic stress – worries and/or pressures that keep you in a state of high alert for long, continuous periods of time – has been linked to worse health outcomes, like sleep issues and higher blood pressure.

Sometimes, though, chronic stress lasts so long that it can be hard to tell it apart from “regular life”.

Thankfully, Dr Bijal Chheda, a consultant psychologist and founder of Nos Curare, has shared seven signs your body might give to suggest you’re dealing with the ongoing issue.

1) Persistent headaches

“Stress is a well-recognised trigger for tension-type headaches because it can cause the muscles around the scalp and neck to remain tense,” the psychologist said.

“Over time, the nervous system may become more sensitive to these pain signals, meaning headaches that were once occasional begin occurring more regularly.”

If you’re experiencing this symptom, keep a diary detailing when the headaches happen, how long they last, and what, if anything, helps. If the problem keeps coming back or don’t improve, speak to your GP.

2) Stomach cramps

Yep – stress really can mess up your stomach. For instance, the NHS said, it can slow digestion down.

“During periods of prolonged stress, communication between the brain and gut can become disrupted, affecting how the gut functions,” Dr Chheda added.

“The bowel muscles may contract irregularly, triggering cramps and leaving the stomach feeling unsettled.”

If this happens, she advised that diaphragmatic breathing may help – though again, see your doctor if the symptom doesn’t let up.

3) Tense muscles

When we’re chronically stressed, “the body may remain slightly prepared for action, maintaining a low level of muscle contraction,” the expert explained.

“Over time, this can make it difficult for certain muscles to fully relax, leaving areas such as the shoulders or neck feeling tight.”

Sounds like you? Progressive muscle relaxation can help.

4) Ongoing fatigue

I know, I know: supposedly, everyone’s tired. But that doesn’t mean you have to accept constant low-level exhaustion, or that it’s normal.

“Under stress, the body shifts its energy towards responding to whatever feels threatening, and away from the processes that help it recover. This is why so many people under pressure find it difficult to fully relax, even when there is nothing immediate left to respond to,” the psychologist stated.

“Over time, chronic stress can become exhausting, causing even routine tasks to feel more physically demanding. Rather than trying to push through the fatigue, build short periods of genuine recovery into the day.”

5) Disrupted sleep

Though settling down for a good night’s sleep sounds relaxing, Dr Chheda said these quiet periods can make stressful thoughts louder. “This may also keep cortisol levels elevated later than usual, making it harder for the body to shift naturally into rest,” she said.

“As a result, falling asleep may take longer, while small disturbances may be more likely to wake you during the night.”

Following a consistent sleep routine, avoiding screens before bed, and a relaxing hobby like reading can all help, she ended.

But if the issue persists – you guessed it – it might be time to speak to a medical professional.

From ‘Hara Hachi Bu’ To Daily Movement: The Simple Japanese Rules For Healthy Ageing

Posted on 27/08/2026 by Boris Clair

We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about “ikigai”, a phenomenon the Japanese government’s site describes as “that which brings value and joy to life: from people, such as one’s children or friends, to activities including work and hobbies”.

Ikigai could help us to lead happier, healthier lives as we age.

And think tank and charity The King’s Trust has suggested that the UK could stand to learn from another of the country’s policies – community gathering places, or CGPs.

In a project run with the International Longevity Centre UK, they wrote, “In our roundtable, CGPs were pointed to as a key example of the kind of preventive, community-based initiatives that Japanese policymakers view as key to both tackling the health effects of ageing and preventing loneliness and social isolation.

“Evidence suggests that CGPs have been reasonably successful in these aims.”

Japan was chosen as an example because almost a third of its population is aged 65 or above.

What are CGPs?

CGPs “arrange community activities ranging from exercise classes to hobby groups, with the aim of improving health and cognition, preventing frailty and fostering social connection,” The King’s Fund’s site reads.

Residents usually lead these events, which are “free or extremely cheap”.

They’re described as being a key part of Japan’s healthy ageing policy.

Social isolation has been linked to a shorter lifespan, increased dementia risk, and worse mental health.

Research has shown GCPs might lead to better mental and physical health, though they benefit some more than others

A 2026 paper found that among older adults who didn’t exercise regularly, participating in CGPs seemed to lower the risk of developing cognitive disabilities.

This effect wasn’t seen among those who already worked out, though.

Women, those over 75, people who live alone, those on low incomes, and rural residents appeared to get more out of the scheme.

Another study showed that monthly CGP participants tended to have lower disability prediction scores and greater levels of happiness. “Higher frequency of participation was associated with lower disability scores and greater happiness,” it reads.

Associate Professor Uemura, who conducted research into GCPs, said: “These findings support a growing direction in long-term care prevention policy, which creates opportunities for participation that are accessible to older adults who may find regular exercise difficult.

“We hope this evidence will help inform community-based initiatives that support a wide range of older adults and contribute to policies aimed at reducing health inequalities.”

‘Second Grief’ – Why Death Breaks So Many Friendships Apart

Posted on 24/08/2026 by Boris Clair

Speaking to The Times recently, actor Richard E. Grant – who lost his wife of 35 years, voice coach Joan Washington, in 2021 – said the experience led him to cut certain friends out of his life for good.

“There are people that have been edited out of my life, and I will never see them again,” he shared, speaking about friends who became distant after his wife’s death. “If I had done that to them, I wouldn’t be able to look them in the face.”

I’ve heard a similar sentiment from many bereaved loved ones (I’ve been blindsided by it, too). Something tragic happens, and just when you need support the most, people you’d have thought were closest to you appear to fade away.

Or maybe you feel you can never “connect” the same with your old pals after such a life-changing event (another common issue friends have shared).

What’s happening here? HuffPost UK spoke to BACP-registered therapist Laurie Hole about why friendships so often fall apart after a death.

Why do so many friendships break apart after a death?

Hole said that while death is universal, the topic of grief remains incredibly taboo for many.

“We are generally very under-equipped to understand grief or know how to support somebody through it,” she explained.

“Until you experience a significant loss, it can be almost impossible to comprehend the enormity of it – and even the grieving person themselves may struggle to make sense of what they are experiencing.”

That might mean those suffering a terrible loss feel the responsibility to explain their feelings or the nature of their pain when they might be least equipped to do so.

Therefore, the griever might isolate themselves first: “Sometimes withdrawing from friendships becomes a way of protecting already very limited emotional reserves”.

Other times, the therapist added, “Another person’s loss can bring up [friends’] own unacknowledged or unresolved grief, or confront them with feelings about death and mortality that they would rather avoid. They may have their own life challenges that mean they simply don’t have the capacity they ordinarily would.”

She said this isn’t always intentional, though it still stings.

“And sometimes people genuinely believe they are saying or doing something helpful, but it lands painfully. Good intentions don’t necessarily prevent hurt, particularly when we have so few conversations about what grief actually looks and feels like.”

How can I be a better friend to a grieving person?

Given how little grief and death are talked about, Hole shared some guidelines that can help you if your friend is going through it.

These are:

Ban the phrase “at least”. The therapist said we should avoid sentences like “’At least they lived a long life’, ‘at least they’re no longer suffering’, ‘at least you had the time you did’ – however well-intentioned, trying to find a positive in somebody’s loss can feel incredibly devastating to the person hearing it”.
Forget about timelines. When someone loses a loved one, Hole said, don’t try to give them a schedule for getting over the pain or “accepting” their loss. “Instead of asking whether they have accepted or moved on from the death yet, you could ask, ‘How is grief showing up for you right now?’ Be curious about their experience rather than assuming what it should look like,” she advised.
Read up. You might not be able to imagine your friend’s pain, but it can help to “read memoirs and accounts of grief rather than expecting your friend to teach you everything – while remembering that nobody else’s grief will be exactly like theirs”.
Don’t forget big dates. Check in on “the dates that matter: the anniversary of the death, birthdays and other significant occasions. And if you knew the person who died, share your memories,” the expert advised.
Say their loved one’s name. “People sometimes worry that mentioning somebody who has died will remind the grieving person of their loss, but they haven’t forgotten,” stated Hole. “Hearing their loved one’s name can instead be a reminder that this person mattered to other people too.”

When should I give up on a friendship that’s suffering after a death?

Sadly, Hole said, “Friendships don’t necessarily have to last a lifetime, and losing friendships following bereavement can itself become another loss that has to be processed. The death of someone you love is already a profound loss; discovering that some of your friendships cannot survive your grief can become another loss that has to be grieved”.

There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to breaking a friend off, she continued. “Repair might involve acknowledging what happened, listening without becoming defensive, and taking responsibility for the impact – even when causing hurt was never the intention.

“But if somebody who is grieving has explicitly communicated what they need or set boundaries and a friend continually ignores or dismisses those needs, it is reasonable to consider whether that friendship can support them at this point in their life. Sometimes that means temporarily stepping back; sometimes it means allowing the relationship to end.”

Sometimes, the therapist shared, grief can expose existing problems that were easier to hide before a death. And bereavement can make someone who used to put up with a lot more bad behaviour less forbearing, too.

“If maintaining a friendship is repeatedly causing more hurt, it may be worth asking whether that person can still have a place in your life in the same way they did before.”

The Question Psychologists Want You To Ask If You Keep Arguing With Your Partner

Posted on 24/08/2026 by Boris Clair

For five decades, psychologists Dr John Gottman and Dr Julie Schwartz Gottman of the Gottman Institute (GI) have studied couples and the issues that affect them.

This experience led them to develop their “four horsemen” theory of divorce, which found evidence to suggest that criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling usually precede separation.

Their research also showed that couples’ problems tended to split into three groups: solvable problems and perpetual problems.

Working out which one you and your partner are arguing about, the GI says, can help you identify the kinds of resolution you need.

What are solvable problems?

Solvable problems come about due to situational issues that don’t feel integral to a person’s character. That might mean one person is taking on the lion’s share of the housework, or you might disagree on a specific issue with your child.

GI notes that solvable problems in one couple might be perpetual problems (more on those later) for another. But the difference is in how the pair feels about it: “The conflict is simply about that topic, and there may not be a deeper meaning behind each partner’s position”.

Happily, solvable problems can usually be, well, solved through conversation and careful planning.

Maybe you can assign certain household domains to one another, for instance, or agree to compromise on where to spend Christmas.

What are perpetual problems?

These make up most (69%) of the arguments, the psychologists found.

Perpetual problems are ongoing differences or misalignments that are fundamental to you or your partner’s needs or lifestyles. For instance, maybe your beau values the financial benefits that can come with working hard over a fulfilling work-life balance.

So, you two might keep having what seems like the same argument about late nights and missed dinners.

Because they reflect core parts of each member in the relationship, perpetual problems will recur. If you like to see your family twice a week and they need more “me” time, compromise might leave both parties feeling like they’re denying a big part of themselves pretty regularly.

In this case, the goal should be to “establish a dialogue about the perpetual problem that communicates acceptance of your partner with humour, affection, and even amusement”.

Identify the drive, identity, belief, or “dream” behind each of your behaviours: this can make discussing the problem easier. Ask your partner to do the same, and try to get curious about their feelings instead of trying to “solve” the issue: this can create a healthier dialogue.

This will be an ongoing conversation, so try to get good at – and respectful in – having it.

‘Normal’ Means Different Things To GPs And Patients, And It May Affect Treatment

Posted on 22/08/2026 by Boris Clair

Let’s say you go to your doctor with a documented, ongoing case of psoriasis. You might complain of itchy and flaky skin.

To your surprise, though, your GP tells you these symptoms are “normal”. You might feel dismissed or as if your problems can’t be addressed; maybe you’ll be less likely to seek treatment.

At least, that’s what a recent study published in Nature Human Behaviour suggests.

It said that, while doctors might hope to reassure patients by calling well-understood symptoms “normal,” data shows it could actually make people with health issues think nothing can be done about their problems.

That might mean they don’t look for or ask about solutions like medications, even when they may be both available and useful.

Professor On Amir, the study’s senior author, told Pulse Today: “Doctors shouldn’t stop reassuring patients. But they should make their meaning unmistakable”.

So, HuffPost UK spoke to Dr Dominic Greenyer, a GP and director at The Health Suite, about what “normal” means to a doctor.

Wait – doesn’t ‘normal’ mean everything’s fine?

I’ll be honest: I always thought being told an issue is “normal” by a doctor meant everything was OK, and nothing more could be done.

But sometimes, Dr Greenyer said, that’s a miscommunication.

“When a doctor describes a symptom as ‘normal’, they will often mean that it’s common, expected in a particular situation, or consistent with a certain stage of life. It does not necessarily mean the symptom is insignificant, imaginary or something the patient simply has to tolerate,” he said.

For instance, hot flushes are “normal” during menopause and perimenopause, and pain is “normal” after surgery. However, the GP said that doesn’t mean they need to be tolerated or that they can’t be addressed with appropriate medication.

“’Common’ and ‘untreatable’ are two very different things,” he added.

And, the doctor said, doctors might say lab results or exams that fall within an expected range are normal.

“In that context, it may reassure us that we have not found evidence of a particular disease, but it does not automatically explain why someone feels unwell or mean that no further help is available,” he claimed.

“This study highlights how easily well-intentioned reassurance can be misunderstood. A doctor may be trying to say, ‘This is recognised, and you are not alone’, while the patient hears, ‘There is nothing wrong, and nothing can be done’. Clinicians need to make that distinction explicit.”

Reassurance alone might not be enough

In the Nature study, the authors tested two ways to close that communication gap: asking doctors to explain what “normal” means in a medical sense when using the word, and offering some next steps to patients after normalising their symptoms.

Both appeared to lead to better results.

Dr Greenyer said: “Ideally, reassurance should be followed by a clear plan. That might involve discussing treatment options, explaining how long the symptom is expected to last, arranging follow-up or telling the patient what changes should prompt them to seek help again.”

And if that doesn’t happen, it might be worth your while taking the lead.

“Patients should not be afraid to ask, ‘When you say normal, do you mean it is harmless, or simply that it is common?’. They can also ask whether treatment is available and what they should do if the symptom persists, worsens, or begins affecting everyday life,” the GP concluded.

“Being told something is normal should never be interpreted as an instruction to ignore a significant change in your health. If symptoms are severe, persistent, worsening or accompanied by warning signs such as unexplained weight loss, unusual bleeding, a new lump, chest pain or breathing difficulties, further medical advice may still be needed.”

I Added A Baking Staple To My Chickpeas, And It Made Them Silkier And Creamier Than Ever

Posted on 16/08/2026 by Boris Clair

I’ve been banging on about the merits of slow cookers, especially during a heatwave, all summer.

Even though they’re usually associated with stodgy winter dishes, their lower temperature and enhanced insulation mean they don’t warm your kitchen up as much as you’d expect.

Alongside a delicious coconut lentil soup and some Greek-inspired mains, I’ve been batch-cooking my own chickpeas, too. (Yes, canned is easier, but tinned chickpeas are also designed to keep their shape in the container, meaning they’re never quite soft enough for dishes like hummus).

Still, it wasn’t until last week that I tried a long-standing trick to make them softer, creamier, and more delicious – and I wish I’d started years before.

Add baking soda to your chickpeas

I usually add garlic, salt, and chilli to my chickpea water for a bit of added flavour. Salt might have a small advantage in softening them, but for the best results, you need baking soda.

There’s some interesting science behind the addition. When you add the baking staple to chickpea water, it slowly replaces the legumes’ rigid calcium ions with bendier sodium ions.

And the alkaline nature of baking soda also breaks down the bonds that hold their pectins (a type of plant fibre) together.

Combined, those factors mean that baking soda makes chickpeas soft, squidgy, and almost fudgy.

Their skins also soften and even begin to flake away depending on how long you cook them. That, I find, is especially useful for hummus – though I like a looser, softer chickpea for things like salads and chickpea curries, too.

Chickpeas in the slow cooker: then in a curry

I was amazed by how well the trick worked. Compared to chickpeas I’d stewed for hours, those cooked with baking soda became softer much faster – and eliminated that harder centre I could never quite coax into silky perfection.

How much baking soda should I add to my chickpeas?

You don’t need much to see impressive results. I use about a teaspoon per 500g of dry chickpeas, but some recipes halve that.

The amount you’ll need to add depends, partly, on how long you’re cooking chickpeas for. If you’re making them on the hob, more baking soda will be better; however in the slow cooker, where they stew for hours, try less.

Serious Eats notes that you don’t have to spend hours on the method if you don’t have time. You can soften tinned chickpeas using baking soda, too: just drain them, add enough liquid to cover them, and whack in some baking soda while they boil. Half a teaspoon per 400g can of chickpeas should do the job.

Test the chickpeas as they cook to make sure they haven’t collapsed completely. Once they’ve reached the desired texture, you can remove them and drain them.

This has an added benefit: the chickpea water from baking-soda-cooked legumes is a bit bitter and unpleasant. So, if you need to use this for your recipe, you can save the liquid from the can and use that later on.

5 Steps For More (And Better) Orgasms During Menopause

Posted on 15/08/2026 by Boris Clair

We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about the best sex positions for menopausal women.

Speaking to HuffPost UK previously, Elisabeth Neumann, a sexologist at Lovehoney, said menopause can “make sex feel unfamiliar and frustrating, especially when things that once worked perfectly well no longer feel as comfortable”.

And that might affect the quantity and quality of your orgasms, too.

Pharmacist and author of Love Your Vulva: Celebrating Women’s Bodies, Laura Dowling, said: “As oestrogen falls, the vulva and vagina can become drier, more sensitive and less elastic, so sex may become uncomfortable or painful. And if sex hurts, you’re hardly going to be thinking, ‘Great, now let’s have an orgasm’.

“Then add poor sleep, hot flushes, stress, body-image changes, medications, relationship pressures and being absolutely exhausted.”

Here, she shared how to up your odds of the big O.

How can I increase my chances of orgasm during menopause?

Neumann said some ways to increase your odds of orgasm during menopause include:

Taking the pressure off yourself,
Giving yourself more time,
Using plenty of lube,
Focusing on clitoral stimulation (“most women need direct clitoral stimulation to orgasm”),
Listening to your body – “If sex is dry or painful, don’t just push through it.”

“One of the reasons I wrote Love Your Vulva is because so many women were never properly taught about their own anatomy,” she added.

“Knowing what feels good and being able to say it out loud is a very good place to start.”

Anything else?

Yes – paradoxically, Neumann said, focusing less on the big finish could sometimes make sex and masturbation more enjoyable.

“Sex does not have to be a race towards an orgasm,” she told us. “It can be about touch, pleasure, intimacy, laughing, feeling close to somebody or simply enjoying what feels good.

“And what you enjoy may change as you get older. That doesn’t mean your sex life is finished. It just means the rulebook might need a rewrite.”

We know, for instance, that hormone changes in menopause might mean some people take longer to “get going” in the bedroom, as their levels of sensitivity change.

And some people find that penetrative sex becomes uncomfortable during the life stage, too.

The author ended, “I’d much rather a woman have sex that feels pleasurable and connected than spend the whole time worrying about whether she is going to finish.

“There is no gold medal for having an orgasm. If it feels good and you enjoyed yourself, that counts.”

Some Associate Autism With Lower Empathy – But The Opposite May Be True

Posted on 13/08/2026 by Boris Clair

To be frank, I was always surprised to read that some people associated autism with a “lack of empathy” or “empathy dysfunction”.

I know autism is a broad spectrum, meaning a “rule” that applies to one person doesn’t necessarily show up in another. But I’d noticed some loved ones with autism seemed to experience more empathy (or at least a more intense empathy) than average, not less.

In 2024, researchers found a high percentage of “hyper-empathy” among autistic people.

Here, we spoke to one of the study’s authors, Dr Stephen Connolly, a Senior Lecturer in Autism from the Sheffield Hallam Institute of Education, about his team’s findings.

What is hyper-empathy?

Hyper-empathy is “an intense emotional response to people, plants, objects, animals, even fictional characters, often to the point of distress. It is intense, all-consuming thoughts and feelings that can make it hard for someone to distinguish their own feelings from another person’s.”

Sometimes, Dr Connolly said, this overwhelming hyper-empathy can be so intense that it can lead to vomiting, nausea, pain, agitation, crying, depression, anxiety, and burnout.

A person with hyper-empathy might even lose money over it. This can happen when “someone wants to pay to try resolve the problem such as taking in an animal from a shelter, paying for someone’s shopping, [or] replacing an item someone has lost or broken”.

And the trait could even cause issues in relationships, as people’s friends and family may wonder why “someone is seen as putting emotional resources into a damaged piece of furniture, an injured bird, or a homeless person but not their partner or friend… Some people can blame the hyper-empathic person for their responses, leading to breakdowns in relationships.”

Dr Connolly added that people with hyper-empathy might avoid situations that elicit this often extremely intense response.

Therefore, they might not “be willing to enter some environments or be there for people when they are needed.

“There is an immense emotional, cognitive and physical load attached to a hyper-empathic response that can be all-consuming. At best it can halt a person’s day, at worst it can lead to suicidal ideation.”

What link is there between hyper-empathy and autism?

Dr Connolly’s research is not the only study to link autistic people with a greater likelihood of experiencing hyper-empathy.

“Early and growing research is suggesting it can be a fairly common response in autistic people, but understanding it can be difficult,” the lecturer told us.

“One of the challenges is that some people have talked about how they felt empathy so much they had to ‘shut it off,’” meaning that while their baseline levels of empathy might be very high, they could have adapted to hide it.

Meanwhile, many autistic people may have alexithymia, or difficulty naming, identifying, and/or expressing their own feelings.

“There is also a well-researched issue of the double empathy problem, where someone’s empathic response is not validated or accepted as empathy and so goes unacknowledged by those around the person,” Connolly continued.

This can happen when two people have very different experiences of the world.

“All this can lead to the person [being] seen as not having empathy.”

Of course, hyper-empathy is not a universal autistic trait. In his 2024 research, Connolly and his team found a “huge amount of variation in the empathic experiences of participants”; some identified with having lower empathy, while others described very powerful empathetic reactions.

So… why don’t we see autistic people as empathetic?

The expert told us that hyper-empathy is “substantially” underplayed and ignored in discussions about autistic people, partly due to “historic misunderstandings”.

For instance, he said, early autism research from people like Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger suggested that people with autism seemed to have less emotional reactivity in empathetic scenarios.

Experts like Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, a student of Uta Firth who created the first UK clinic for adults seeking a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome in 1999, may have been influenced by their ideas, Connolly claimed.

(Asperger’s is no longer a diagnostic term; it’s now seen as part of the autism spectrum).

Baron-Cohen has since expressed regret over characterising autism using an “extreme male brain” theory, telling The Guardian: “Some of those terms were very easily misunderstood… It can lead to simplistic headlines like ‘autistic people lack empathy’, which is not true”.

However, he said that the underlying science still stands, calling the idea that autistic people lack empathy a “myth”.

Dr Connolly said that later, researchers Dr Luke Beardon and, separately, Dr Damian Milton suggested that major studies might have missed empathy in autistic people because they were only looking for the kind typically expressed by those without autism.

But the problem is that many of the ideas that influenced popular thought about autism were set in the ’80s and ’90s, overtaking newer ideas, he added. They may have even been “central to the development of understanding of autism in the DSM [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the standard diagnostic tool used by mental health experts in the US].”

So, Connolly said, potentially outdated tropes were “reproduced in media (e.g., Rain Man, The Big Bang Theory) and spread the message that autistic people lack empathy. It is even a core element of the diagnostic process still in 2026”.

Therefore, “When [autistic] people express hyper-empathy, it [can] go unacknowledged, and often the impact (burnout, physical, and other costs) will be attributed to something else… people can also be seen as challenging because of their hyper-empathic responses,” he ended.

“We have a significant number of autistic people who society deems to lack empathy but experience intense emotional responses that can lead to psychological, physical, social, and economic impact[s], and this will all go unsupported, or even [be] seen as challenging, or a problem leading to potential long-term impacts.”

GP Explains The Difference Between Healthy And ‘Pathological’ Ageing

Posted on 12/08/2026 by Boris Clair

You might think that some changes, like memory loss, are inevitable as the years roll by. And that can be true – but serious conditions like dementia, though more common among older people, are not an ordinary part of healthy ageing.

In general, Dominic Greenyer, a private GP at The Health Suite, told HuffPost UK: “Ageing naturally brings some change. People may notice a modest reduction in muscle mass, bone density, cardiovascular fitness, hearing, vision or the speed at which they process information.

“However, severe or rapidly progressing decline should not automatically be dismissed as an inevitable part of getting older.”

Sometimes, people call non-standard deterioration “pathological ageing”. Here, we asked the GP to explain what the term means, as well as the signs you may be experiencing one or the other.

What is pathological ageing?

It’s not a single formal condition, the doctor said.

Instead, pathological ageing describes “deterioration driven or accelerated by disease, rather than the gradual biological changes we would ordinarily expect as a person grows older… [it may] involve illness or damage that significantly affects a person’s function and independence”.

That might include cardiovascular disease, poorly controlled diabetes, osteoporosis, dementia, chronic lung disease, severe frailty or substantial muscle loss.

“One of the dangers of describing every new symptom as ‘just old age’ is that treatable conditions can be missed,” the GP continued.

“Persistent exhaustion, unexplained weight loss, repeated falls, worsening breathlessness, new confusion, significant memory changes or a sudden loss of strength should be properly assessed.”

Older people may be led to believe that “pain, fatigue or loss of mobility is something they simply have to tolerate”; but that’s not always the case.

“The important questions are how quickly the change has happened, whether it is affecting everyday life, and whether an underlying condition may be contributing to it.”

How can I tell pathological ageing from normal ageing?

Dr Greenyer said that healthy ageing doesn’t mean reaching old age without any disease whatsoever. In fact, he considers healthy vs pathological ageing as more of a “spectrum” than separate poles.

“Many people live well with arthritis, high blood pressure or other long-term conditions when these are recognised, treated and properly controlled,” he said.

But a person’s level of functionality matters here.

“Healthy ageing means preserving as much physical capacity, cognitive ability, independence and social engagement as possible. A person may have a diagnosis but still remain active, make their own decisions, maintain relationships and continue doing the things that matter to them,” the GP explained.

“Pathological ageing is more likely to involve decline that is disproportionate, accelerated or driven by disease. It can begin to restrict mobility, memory, resilience and the ability to manage ordinary tasks.”

People can move between pathological and healthy ageing, he added. “Early diagnosis, rehabilitation, better disease control and changes to daily habits can sometimes slow decline and restore a meaningful amount of function.”

Can I decrease my odds of pathological ageing?

Dr Greenyer stressed that lifestyle changes alone can’t guarantee healthy ageing – genes and other factors outside our control can play a part here.

Therefore, he said, “people should never be blamed for illnesses that are not entirely within their control”.

With that said, some habits can make a “significant difference” to how likely we are to age well.

Not smoking “remains one of the most important steps a person can take,” the GP stated, while controlling and monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar can go a long way too.

“Good-quality sleep, meaningful social contact and continuing to challenge the brain are also important,” he said, while depression and hearing loss are often “overlooked” factors that can make ageing well less likely.

Calling regular physical activity “one of the most powerful things we can do.” Dr Grenyer stated that “Aerobic activity supports the heart, lungs and circulation, while strength training helps preserve muscle, bone density, balance and the ability to perform everyday tasks”.

You don’t need to hit the gym every day, either. Brisk walking, cycling, swimming, gardening, carrying shopping and simple resistance exercises can all help, the expert advised, while balance work is great for better ageing (especially among those prone to falls).

Diet is important, as well – “Older adults need sufficient protein to help preserve muscle, alongside vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and sources of healthy fats. People should also pay attention to hydration, as the sensation of thirst can become less reliable with age”.

Lastly, the GP told us that prevention isn’t just about lifestyle choices. Getting vaccines, attending screenings, and seeing your doctor about new concerns matters, too.

“The goal is not to stop ageing, because that is impossible. It is to protect resilience, function and independence for as long as possible, while recognising that it is never too late to make changes that may improve health and quality of life.”

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