People on the autism spectrum are dying an average of 16 years earlier than the rest of the population because of epilepsy, according to a new study.

Previous studies revealed that people suffering from autism have higher risks of dying early from a host of diseases.

However, new research from Sweden has highlighted epilepsy as one of the two leading causes of premature mortality in people with autism. The other was suicide.

Sweden’s Karolinska Institute analysed data from 27,000 people with autism compared with almost three million people without the condition.

Between 20-40 per cent of people with autism also have epilepsy, in comparison with one per cent of the general population.

Commenting on the research, Epilepsy Society’s medical director and professor of epilepsy at University College London, Ley Sander said: “This study clearly backs up what we have been saying for some time, that most premature deaths in people with epilepsy are related to other conditions.

“We know that there is a strong link between epilepsy and cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diesease. Now this report confirms autism as another major consideration that must be addressed.”

Scientists still cannot exactly explain the link between autism and epilepsy, which is partly why the charity wants to raise the money over the next five years to enable more research.

The Epilepsy Society launched an online campaign earlier this month calling on health secretary, Jeremy Hunt to put a stop to the number of needless deaths caused by epilepsy in general.

More than 1,300 people have emailed their MPs in response to the campaign.

About 500,000 people in England have epilepsy, and although figures show that it carries with it a greater risk of premature death, over a third (39 per cent) of those deaths are thought to be avoidable through better care, treatments and services.

Emily Rastall was one of those. She had just finished her university exams when she was found dead in bed because of epilepsy in May 2012.

Her father Roger, from Spittal in Pembrokeshire, said: “I used to think newspapers always use the same cliché in cases like this – ‘devastating’.

“But actually that’s the only word to describe it – a devastating experience. Your life is turned upside down. And it’s lasting – it never goes away. I’m finding it hard now.”