Journal article 274 views 27 downloads
Ageing and subjective cognitive decline in males and females: Associations with objective cognitive abilities, mental health, and autistic traits
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Andrea Tales ,
Emma Richards,
Alecia Cousins ,
Julia R. Badger
Research in Autism, Volume: 127, Start page: 202682
Swansea University Authors:
Andrea Tales , Emma Richards, Alecia Cousins
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© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CC BY license.
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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.reia.2025.202682
Abstract
Little is known about the impact of ageing on Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) and objective cognition in adults on the autism spectrum, and autism and autistic traits are not typically considered when assessing older adults in Memory Clinics for dementia. Therefore, individual variation in autist...
| Published in: | Research in Autism |
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| ISSN: | 3050-6573 3050-6565 |
| Published: |
Elsevier BV
2025
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70161 |
| Abstract: |
Little is known about the impact of ageing on Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) and objective cognition in adults on the autism spectrum, and autism and autistic traits are not typically considered when assessing older adults in Memory Clinics for dementia. Therefore, individual variation in autistic traits have not been taken into account when producing normative data for such assessments. The current study aimed to examine SCD and objective cognitive performance in older adults (aged 50–78 years), investigating relationships with autistic traits, depression, anxiety, and sex. Relationships varied depending on sex: for males, SCD was associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression, and a higher degree of systemizing was associated with better speed of processing and backwards working memory span. For females, older age was associated with poorer cognitive flexibility. Findings indicate that relationships between subjective and objective cognitive abilities, autistic traits, and mental health differ based on sex in older adults. This may help to explain outcome variability in previous studies, and has important implications for the use, adaptation, and interpretation of tests used in Memory Clinics. |
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| Keywords: |
Ageing; Dementia; SCD; Mental health; Sex; Autistic traits; Autism |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
This work was supported by the Realising Potential Trust (B1760), and BRACE Dementia Research (Registered Charity Number: 297965). |
| Start Page: |
202682 |