For decades, autism was widely viewed as a condition mostly affecting boys, leaving countless women overlooked, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed. Today, more women are receiving an autism diagnosis in women later in life, particularly in their 40s, after years of unanswered questions. Many describe the experience as finally finding the missing piece that explains lifelong struggles with relationships, burnout, anxiety, or feeling different. Experts say this growing trend is not about autism becoming more common in women — it is about medicine finally catching up.
