Autism Not Linked to Increased Age-Related Cognitive Decline, Study Finds

Strategic Insights -

A new study conducted by University College London (UCL) researchers has found no difference in age-related cognitive decline between older individuals with autistic traits and those who are neurotypical. The study, published in The Gerontologist, analyzed data from 10,060 people over the age of 50 in the UK who had been assessed as having autistic traits. The researchers used a method called growth mixture modeling to track changes in spatial working memory over a seven-year period.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that most people, whether they had high levels of autistic traits or not, maintained their cognitive ability over time.
  • The results suggested that autistic people were not more likely to experience cognitive decline in the domain of spatial working memory.
  • The study had a large sample size of 10,060 people, with 1.5% of the cohort identified as having high levels of autistic traits.
  • The researchers used a method called growth mixture modeling to analyze changes in spatial working memory over time.
  • The study provides useful evidence to reassure autistic people about the risk of age-related cognitive decline and potentially dementia.
  • The study was supported by various organizations, including the Dunhill Medical Trust, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and Alzheimer's Research UK.

Statistics:

  • 10,060 people were included in the study, with 1.5% identified as having high levels of autistic traits.
  • The study analyzed data over a seven-year period.
  • The researchers used a method called growth mixture modeling to track changes in spatial working memory.
  • The study found that most people maintained their cognitive ability over time, with no significant difference between autistic and neurotypical individuals.
  • The study provides evidence that autistic people may not be at higher risk of age-related cognitive decline.

Sources:

  • "Autism not linked in increased age-related cognitive decline" by University College London, May 2025.
  • The Gerontologist, published in the journal, (exact date not specified).
  • Professor Joshua Stott's academic profile on the UCL website.
  • UCL Psychology & Language Sciences website.
  • UCL Brain Sciences website.
  • Dunhill Medical Trust website.
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) website.
  • Alzheimer's Research UK website.
  • British Academy website.