The cognitive profile of middle‐aged and older adults with high vs. low autistic traits

Abstract

Cognitive differences in memory, information processing speed (IPS), and executive functions (EF), are common in autistic and high autistic trait populations. Despite memory, IPS and EF being sensitive to age-related change, little is known about the cognitive profile of older adults with high autistic traits. This study explores cross-sectional memory, IPS and EF task performance in a large sample of older adults in the online PROTECT cohort (n = 22,285, aged 50-80 years), grouped by high vs. low autistic traits. Approximately 1% of PROTECT participants (n = 325) endorsed high autistic traits [henceforth Autism Spectrum Trait (AST) group]. Differences between AST and age-, gender-, and education-matched comparison older adults (COA; n = 11,744) were explored on memory, IPS and EF tasks and questionnaires administered online. AST had lower performance than COA on tasks measuring memory, working memory, sustained attention, and information processing. No group differences were observed in simple attention or verbal reasoning. A similar pattern of results was observed when controlling for age, and current depression and anxiety symptoms. In addition, AST self-reported more cognitive decline than COA, but this difference was not significant when controlling for current depression symptoms, or when using informant-report. These findings suggest that autistic traits are associated with cognitive function in middleaged and later life. Older adults with high autistic traits experienced more performance difficulties in a range of memory, IPS and EF tasks compared with the low autistic traits comparison group. Further longitudinal work is needed to examine age-related change in both older autistic and autistic trait populations. Lay SummaryLittle is known about the cognitive profile of middle-aged and older autistic or high autistic trait adults. Using data from the PROTECT cohort and a wellvalidated online cognitive assessment platform, the findings from the current study suggest that higher autistic traits are associated with worse cognitive functioning throughout later adulthood. This suggests that older adults with high autistic traits may require additional support as they age.

An examination of the independent and interactive effects of autistic traits, bidialectalism and multilingualism in a general-population, adult sample

“…This suggests that high (below clinical level) autistic traits in the neurotypical population are, in general, not detrimental for language and cognitive functioning. At face value, this finding is in contrast with research on individuals diagnosed with ASD, which generally shows that, on average, ASD participants exhibit various cognitive difficulties compared to neurotypical (=low-autistic-trait) controls (e.g., Demetriou et al, 2018;Hoekstra et al, 2009;Marinopoulou et al, 2023;Nader et al, 2016;Stewart et al, 2023). It is possible, however, that autistic traits have different effects in the two populations; and that there is a threshold level of autistic traits above which autistic characteristics (and their potentially very small effects accumulate and) start to lead or relate to language and cognitive dysfunctions.…”

“…On the one hand, some evidencethough currently controversial-suggests that bidialectals and multilinguals exhibit, under certain conditions, better non-verbal cognitive processing (e.g., Bialystok & Craik, 2022; though see Paap, 2023) but worse language performance (e.g., Bialystok et al, 2009;Bylund et al, 2023), at least in some respects. On the other hand, ASD, or autistic traits more broadly, are often linked to lower language and non-verbal 7 cognitive performance (e.g., Demetriou et al, 2018;Hoekstra et al, 2009;Marinopoulou et al, 2023;Nader et al, 2016;Stewart et al, 2023).…”

The effects of COVID-19 on cognitive performance in a community-based cohort: a COVID symptom study biobank prospective cohort study

“…In addition to studies of both hospitalised and community cases of COVID-19, 6 , 7 cognitive batteries using the same platform have previously been shown to be sensitive to cognitive impairment in early Alzheimer's disease, cognitive decline in individuals with mild behavioural impairment (an at-risk state for dementia), cognitive function in older adults with high vs. low autistic traits, and “brain training” task repetition. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 Cognitive impairments following traumatic brain injury measured using the platform have also been found to correlate with corresponding brain networks measured by MRI. 27 Although participants in this study performed testing remotely in unsupervised conditions, where differences in test environment may contribute to variation, cognitive deficits among individuals hospitalised with COVID-19 were previously found to be consistent between studies where data was collected under unsupervised and supervised conditions.…”

No effect of autistic traits on social attention: evidence based on single-cue and conflicting-cues scenarios

“…In alignment with our findings, individuals characterized by lower autistic traits exhibit heightened levels of scientific reasoning abilities and reduced inclination towards conspiracy theory beliefs [ 50 ]. Conversely, older adults demonstrating higher autistic traits encounter increased challenges when engaging in tasks that assess working memory and sustained attention [ 51 ]. These findings imply the existence of potential variations in cognitive flexibility related to autistic traits.…”