Cognitive and Cerebral Aging Research in Autism: A Systematic Review on an Emerging Topic.
Marine Bessé, Shasha Morel-Kohlmeyer, Emmanuelle Houy-Durand and 7 others
PMID 40196934WHAT IT FOUND
Research on cognitive and brain aging in autism is inconsistent, with most studies being cross-sectional rather than longitudinal.
Current evidence does not support a single aging pattern, meaning clinicians cannot yet predict how autism-specific cognitive or cerebral changes will evolve with age.
Key findings
01Most studies rely on cross-sectional designs, which cannot accurately capture aging trajectories due to potential cohort effects.
02Findings regarding cognitive and cerebral aging are varied, with no clear pattern established in the current literature.
03Only three longitudinal studies have been published to date, limiting the ability to confirm age-related changes.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The vast majority of included studies were cross-sectional, which cannot directly measure aging trajectories and are susceptible to cohort effects (e.g., differences in diagnostic practices or intervention access over time). Only three longitudinal studies were available, and they covered relatively short follow-up periods (2-10 years). Most studies focused on autistic adults with average IQs and less severe characteristics, potentially excluding those with intellectual developmental disorders or more significant support needs. There was significant heterogeneity in the cognitive and cerebral measures used across studies, making direct comparison difficult. Several studies involved overlapping participants from the same research groups, which may introduce bias.
Declared interests
The paper states it was supported by non-U.S. government funding. No specific conflicts of interest are detailed in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that cross-sectional differences between young and old autistic adults represent actual aging trajectories. These findings may reflect cohort effects, such as different diagnostic histories or intervention access, rather than biological aging.