Autism is just as common in adults as it is in children, a new British government study says.

In recent years much attention has been focused on a perceived increase in autism rates among children, but in a study of more than 4,000 British households that country’s top health agency found that autism appeared in similar rates in adults and children.

People were asked questions designed to determine their psychiatric state. Then, researchers examined the results to assess whether or not the individual would fall within the autism spectrum.

Results show that in England 1 in 100 individuals over the age of 18 has some form of autism. That figure is consistent with the rate of children with the disorder in that country.

In addition, the study found that men are more likely than women to have autism, which is found at a rate of 1.8 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively. And, those with autism were more likely to be single, lack a college education and rent rather than own their homes.

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