11 Historical Figures Who May Have Had Autism

They may not have been formally diagnosed during their lifetime, but they displayed some of the most common signs of autism.

8. Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni

Notes retrieved from Italian sculpture Michelangelo have shed more insight on his life, and more notably, on whether or not he lived with autism. The artist had subpar social skills and difficulty communicating. He had limited interests aside from art, choosing to spend the majority of his time honing in on his masterpieces. Research has shown that male members of his family also had autistic traits, including mood disorders and erratic behavior. Dr. Muhammad Arshad defined him as a “loner” who even skipped out on his own brother’s funeral.