Quality of life in adults with autism spectrum disorder: influence of age, sex, and a controlled, randomized mindfulness-based stress reduction pilot intervention

Braden, B. Blair; Pagni, Broc A.; Monahan, Leanna; Walsh, Melissa; Dixon, Maria V.; Delaney, Shanna; Ballard, Lisa

doi:10.1007/s11136-021-03013-x

Cited by 17 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Participants from both groups were excluded if their full‐scale IQ score was <70 on the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test‐2 (KBIT‐2; Kaufman & Kaufman, 2004), they scored <25 on the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE; Folstein et al, 1975), or they self‐reported neurological disease such as a stroke or dementia, head injury with loss of consciousness, known genetic disorders, or current use of seizure medications or illicit drugs. Psychiatric conditions were non‐exclusionary because of high prevalence in ASD (Braden et al, 2022; Lever & Geurts, 2016b). In total, 11 potential participants were excluded from the ASD group: four did not meet criteria on ADOS‐2, four reported head trauma with loss of consciousness, and two did not meet criteria on the SRS‐2, and one did not meet the IQ criteria.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of age on the hippocampus and verbal memory in adults with autism spectrum disorder: Longitudinal versus cross‐sectional findings

et al. 2022

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Research studying aging in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is growing, but longitudinal work is needed. Autistic adults have increased risk of dementia, altered hippocampal volumes and fornix integrity, and verbal memory difficulties compared with neurotypical (NT) adults. This study examined longitudinal aging in middle-age adults with ASD versus a matched NT group, and compared findings with cross-sectional age effects across a broad adult age range. Participants were 194 adults with (n = 106; 74 male) and without (n = 88; 52 male) ASD, ages 18-71. Participants (n = 45; 40-70 age range) with two visits (2-3 years apart) were included in a longitudinal analysis. Hippocampal volume, fornix fractional anisotropy (FA), and verbal memory were measured via T1-weighted MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, respectively. Longitudinal mixed models were used for hippocampal system variables and reliable change index categories were used for Auditory Verbal Learning Test analyses. Multivariate regression was used for cross-sectional analyses. Middle-age adults with ASD had greater longitudinal hippocampal volume loss and were more likely to show clinically meaningful decline in short-term memory, compared with NT. In contrast, cross-sectional associations between increasing age and worsening short-term memory were identified in NT, but not autistic adults. Reduced fornix FA and long-term memory in ASD were found across the broad cross-sectional age range. These preliminary longitudinal findings suggest accelerated hippocampal volume loss in ASD and slightly higher rates of clinically-meaningful decline in verbal short-term memory. Contradictory cross-sectional and longitudinal results underscore the importance of longitudinal aging research in autistic adults. Lay SummaryAutistic adults have increased risk of dementia, differences in brain memory structures, and difficulty with memory compared with neurotypical (NT) adults. However, there are no publications that follow the same middle-age autistic adults over time to see how their brain and memory change. Our preliminary findings in a small middle-age autism sample suggest a key memory brain structure, the hippocampus, may shrink faster over 2-3 years compared with NT, and short-term memory may become more challenging for some. Across a broad adult range, autistic adults also had reduced integrity of connections to the hippocampus and greater challenges with long-term memory. In our larger sample across a broad Broc A. Pagni and Melissa J. M. Walsh contributed equally to this work.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of age on the hippocampus and verbal memory in adults with autism spectrum disorder: Longitudinal versus cross‐sectional findings

et al. 2022

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“…However, studies on QoL in caregivers of patients with other neurodegenerative diseases have shown that being a female caregiver correlates with greater caregiving burden [ 51 ]. Also, studies interested in the association between QoL and demographic variables have highlighted the importance of age and sex in understating QoL of different populations [ 52 – 54 ]. Thus, future research should further investigate the association between demographical variables and QoL in caregiver of HD patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain, cognitive, and physical disability correlates of decreased quality of life in patients with Huntington’s disease

et al. 2022

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Purpose Following a case–control design, as a primary objective, this study aimed to explore the relationship between quality of life (QoL) scores and gray matter (GM) volumes in patients with Huntington’s disease (HD). As a secondary objective, we assessed the relationship between QoL scores and other important behavioral, clinical and demographical variables in patients with HD and HD patients’ caregivers. Methods We recruited 75 participants (25 HD patients, 25 caregivers, and 25 controls) and assessed their QoL using the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF). Participants were also assessed with general cognitive functioning tests and clinical scales. In addition, we acquired MRI scans from all participants. Results Our results showed that patients exhibited significantly lower scores in all four QoL domains (physical health, psychological wellbeing, social relationships, and relationship with the environment) compared to caregivers and controls. Caregivers showed lower scores than controls in the physical health and the environmental domains. In HD patients, lower scores in QoL domains were associated with lower GM volumes, mainly in the precuneus and the cerebellum. Moreover, in HD patients, physical disability and GM volume reduction were significant predictors of QoL decrease in all domains. For caregivers, years of formal education was the most important predictor of QoL. Conclusions HD patients exhibit greater GM volume loss as well as lower QoL scores compared to caregivers and controls. However, caregivers displayed lower scores in QoL scores than controls, with years of education being a significant predictor. Our results reflect a first attempt to investigate the relationships among QoL, GM volumes, and other important factors in an HD and HD caregiver sample.

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“… 24 While our initial evaluation did not include gender-based analyses, prior research exploring the impact of mindfulness on the mental health and quality of life among autistic adults suggests mindfulness may be a promising intervention for autistic women. Braden et al 25 showed that MBSR led to improvements in disability-related quality of life among autistic adults compared to a control intervention (support/education intervention). An exploratory analysis further revealed that only women in both intervention groups improved on physical health-related quality of life and women improved more than men on mental health-related quality of life.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An exploratory analysis further revealed that only women in both intervention groups improved on physical health-related quality of life and women improved more than men on mental health-related quality of life. 25 We delivered 10 mixed gender virtual mindfulness groups between September 2018 and January 2021, reaching 133 autistic adults from across Canada. Across these 10 groups, 6 groups had at least a 2:1 men to women ratio and 1 of the groups had only one woman of 16 participants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Virtual group-based mindfulness program for autistic women: A feasibility study

Redquest

Tint

John

et al. 2022

Womens Health (Lond Engl)

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Background: Autistic women experience life differently than autistic men. For example, autistic women tend to be diagnosed significantly later than autistic men, they experience a higher number of traumas, and are at increased risk for mental health conditions. Given gender-specific life experiences, autistic women may benefit from gender-specific group-based supports. Virtual mindfulness has been shown to be helpful in improving well-being among autistic adults; however, limited research has explored the impact of virtual mindfulness when it is delivered to a group of autistic women only. Objectives: The aim of this article is to describe a preliminary evaluation of a virtual mindfulness group piloted for autistic women. Five key areas of feasibility were assessed in the current study: demand, implementation, acceptability, practicality, and limited efficacy testing. Methods: Twenty-eight women participated in a 6-week virtual autism-informed mindfulness program and were asked to complete measures assessing psychological distress, self-compassion, and mindfulness at pre and post. Participants were also asked to complete a satisfaction survey after the program. Results: Results showed that the program was feasible in terms of demand, implementation, practicality, and acceptability. While quantitative results showed there were no changes in psychological distress, self-compassion, and mindfulness from pre- to post-program, qualitative results showed some benefits. Conclusion: Given the unique challenges that some autistic women experience, offering groups to autistic women may have some value and it would be important to continue exploring this topic area.

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Quality of life in adults with autism spectrum disorder: influence of age, sex, and a controlled, randomized mindfulness-based stress reduction pilot intervention

Cited by 17 publications

References 58 publications

Effects of age on the hippocampus and verbal memory in adults with autism spectrum disorder: Longitudinal versus cross‐sectional findings

Effects of age on the hippocampus and verbal memory in adults with autism spectrum disorder: Longitudinal versus cross‐sectional findings

Brain, cognitive, and physical disability correlates of decreased quality of life in patients with Huntington’s disease

Virtual group-based mindfulness program for autistic women: A feasibility study

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