The Association Between Autism Spectrum Traits and Age-Related Spatial Working Memory Decline: A Large-Scale Longitudinal Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Based on mixed findings from previous research, researchers have hypothesized autism may be a protective or risk factor for age-related cognitive decline/dementia, or that autism does not influence it (parallel aging). To differentiate between hypotheses, longitudinal studies that account for autism underdiagnosis, are needed and lacking. This study examined if higher autistic traits in adults aged 50+ are associated with a greater risk of spatial working memory (SWM) decline, a key cognitive domain affected in both healthy aging and autism.

Research design and methods

Participants from the online PROTECT cohort (n = 13,390) were classified into 3 groups based on autism spectrum traits (AST): high (H-AST, n = 205), intermediate (I-AST, n = 589), and

SUBMITTER: Ghai S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12036657 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature