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Study Finds No Increased Cognitive Decline in Older Adults with Autistic Traits

Longitudinal research involving 10,060 UK participants over seven years reveals equivalent spatial working memory decline in autistic and neurotypical adults.

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Overview

  • A UCL-led study analyzed seven years of data from 10,060 UK adults aged 50+ to investigate cognitive aging in those with autistic traits.
  • Findings published in *The Gerontologist* confirm no accelerated decline in spatial working memory among individuals with high autistic traits compared to neurotypical peers.
  • Researchers used growth mixture modeling to track spatial working memory changes, a cognitive domain linked to navigation and organization, over time.
  • The study aligns the prevalence of high autistic traits (1.5%) within the cohort with general population estimates, addressing prior concerns about autism and dementia risk.
  • Limitations include a lack of ethnic diversity, reliance on internet-based participation, and a focus on social and communication traits, highlighting areas for future research.