Neurodevelopmental disorders (such as autism, ADHD, learning disability, and Tic Disorders) are lifelong conditions which begin in childhood and can have significant impacts on physical and mental health, and social well-being across the lifespan.
People with neurodevelopmental disorders have reduced life expectancy than people without such conditions (neurotypicals). Cardiovascular disease (such as heart attacks and strokes) is a significant contributor to this reduced life-expectancy. It is unclear why people with neurodevelopmental disorders are at increased risk of premature cardiovascular disease. Possible explanations include higher levels of cardiovascular risk factors (such as smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity) in people with neurodevelopmental disorders; difficulties in people with neurodevelopmental disorders accessing healthcare; and potentially shared biological mechanisms which contribute to causing both neurodevelopmental disorders and cardiovascular disease (such as over or under active immune systems).

This project aims to improve understanding of the association of neurodevelopmental disorders and cardiovascular disease. We aim to compare rates of cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol, glucose, insulin, and CRP- a measure of the immune system) and very early cardiovascular disease (as measured by the stiffness of arteries) between young adults (at aged 17 and 24) with neurodevelopmental disorders and without. We predict that young adults with neurodevleopmental disorders will have higher rates of both cardiovascular risk factors and very early cardiovascular disease when compared with neurotypical young adults. If this were to the case it would support a view that people with neurodevelopmental disorders are inherantly at increased risk of cardiovascular disease independent of their access to healthcare and would support policies for screening and early intervention in this group.