
doi: 10.1002/aur.1620
pmid: 26970433
This study investigated for the first time the broad autism phenotype (BAP) in the context of older adulthood and its associations with real‐world executive function, social support, and both depression and anxiety symptomatology. Based on self‐ratings of autistic traits, 66 older adults (60+ years old, range = 61–88) were split into BAP (n = 20) and control (n = 46) groups. Individuals in the BAP group, even after controlling for age, education level, sex, and health problems, exhibited more real‐world executive function problems in multiple domains, reported lower levels of social support, and self‐rated increased depression and anxiety symptomatology compared to the control group. Regression analysis revealed that level of social support was the strongest predictor of BAP traits across both groups, although real‐world executive function problems and depression symptomatology were also significant predictors. Moreover, when predicting anxiety and depression symptomatology, BAP traits were the strongest predictors above and beyond the effects of demographic factors, real‐world executive function problems, and social support levels. These findings suggest that the BAP in older adulthood imparts additional risks to areas of functioning that are known to be crucial to aging‐related outcomes in the context of typical development. These results might in turn inform aging in autism spectrum disorder, which has been largely unexplored to date. Autism Res 2016, 9: 1294–1303. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Aged, 80 and over, Male, Aging, Depressive Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Age Factors, Social Support, Middle Aged, Anxiety Disorders, Executive Function, Phenotype, London, Humans, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Aged
Aged, 80 and over, Male, Aging, Depressive Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Age Factors, Social Support, Middle Aged, Anxiety Disorders, Executive Function, Phenotype, London, Humans, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Aged
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 51 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
