Age-related cognitive changes in the general population include memory loss, selective affected executive functions involved in planning, reasoning, decision making, and impaired prospective memory (future-remembering e.g. to... [ view full abstract ]
Age-related cognitive changes in the general population include memory loss, selective affected executive functions involved in planning, reasoning, decision making, and impaired prospective memory (future-remembering e.g. to take medication), which are all linked to reduced independence, social isolation, and poorer quality of life (Salthouse et al., 2003).Very little research has been done on ageing and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). What little is known suggests poorer outcomes for the majority of individuals followed-up longitudinally (Howlin et al., 2013; Howlin & Moss, 2012), whereas two cross-sectional studies reported fewer age-related differences in relational processing (Ring et al., 2015), and selective memory and executive functions (Lever & Geurts, 2015). However, it remains largely unknown how the severity of autism, cognitive skills underpinning language, executive function and everyday memory, and quality of life are affected by growing older with autism. Our study of 48 adults diagnosed with ASD and 42 non-autistic adults, matched on age (18 to 82 years) and IQ (>70), included tests of executive function, memory, language, autistic traits, comorbidity and quality of life. Initial analyses revealed no age-related differences between younger and older ASDs on executive function tasks and autistic traits severity (Roestorf & Bowler, 2016), or on memory and language tasks. In contrast, non-ASD groups showed expected age-related declines. Older ASDs reported greater satisfaction with personal relationships and future, although quality of life was significantly worse overall for all ASDs, compared to non-ASDs. Our longitudinal follow-up is assessing short-term age-related cognitive changes, and predictors of long-term outcomes in ASD.
