Abstract
Cognitive autism research is mainly focusing on children and young adults even though we know that autism is a life-long disorder
and that healthy aging already has a strong impact on cognitive functioning. We compared the neuropsychological profile of
23 individuals with autism and 23 healthy controls (age range 51–83 years). Deficits were observed in attention, working memory,
and fluency. Aging had a smaller impact on fluency in the high functioning autism (HFA) group than in the control group, while
aging had a more profound effect on visual memory performance in the HFA group. Hence, we provide novel evidence that elderly
with HFA have subtle neuropsychological deficits and that the developmental trajectories differ between elderly with and without
HFA in particular cognitive domains.
and that healthy aging already has a strong impact on cognitive functioning. We compared the neuropsychological profile of
23 individuals with autism and 23 healthy controls (age range 51–83 years). Deficits were observed in attention, working memory,
and fluency. Aging had a smaller impact on fluency in the high functioning autism (HFA) group than in the control group, while
aging had a more profound effect on visual memory performance in the HFA group. Hence, we provide novel evidence that elderly
with HFA have subtle neuropsychological deficits and that the developmental trajectories differ between elderly with and without
HFA in particular cognitive domains.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10803-011-1291-0
- Authors
- Hilde M. Geurts, Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Roetersstraat 15, 1018 WB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Marlies E. Vissers, Cognitive Science Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Online ISSN 1573-3432
- Print ISSN 0162-3257