Age group differences in executive network functional connectivity and relationships with social behavior in men with autism spectrum disorder / Melissa J. M. WALSH in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 63 (July 2019)  

Public ISBD [article]  inResearch in Autism Spectrum Disorders > 63 (July 2019) . - p.63-77 Titre : Age group differences in executive network functional connectivity and relationships with social behavior in men with autism spectrum disorder Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Melissa J. M. WALSH, Auteur ; Leslie C. BAXTER, Auteur ; Christopher J. SMITH, Auteur ; B. Blair BRADEN, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.63-77 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Aging  Autism Spectrum Disorder  fMRI  Social behavior  Executive network  Executive functions Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Background Research suggests adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may use executive functions to compensate for social difficulties. Given hallmark age-related declines in executive functioning and the executive brain network in normal aging, there is concern that older adults with ASD may experience further declines in social functioning as they age. In a male-only sample, we hypothesized: 1) older adults with ASD would demonstrate greater ASD-related social behavior than young adults with ASD, 2) adults with ASD would demonstrate a greater age group reduction in connectivity of the executive brain network than neurotypical (NT) adults, and 3) that behavioral and neural mechanisms of executive functioning would predict ASD-related social difficulties in adults with ASD. Methods Participants were a cross-sectional sample of non-intellectually disabled young (ages 18–25) and middle-aged (ages 40-70) adult men with ASD and NT development (young adult ASD: n?=?24; middle-age ASD: n?=?25; young adult NT: n?=?15; middle-age NT: n?=?21). We assessed ASD-related social behavior via the self-report Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2) Total Score, with exploratory analyses of the Social Cognition Subscale. We assessed neural executive function via connectivity of the resting-state executive network (EN) as measured by independent component analysis. Correlations were investigated between SRS-2 Total Scores (with exploratory analyses of the Social Cognition Subscale), EN functional connectivity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), and a behavioral measure of executive function, Tower of London (ToL) Total Moves. Results We did not confirm a significant age group difference for adults with ASD on the SRS-2 Total Score; however, exploratory analysis revealed middle-age men with ASD had higher scores on the SRS-2 Social Cognition Subscale than young adult men with ASD. Exacerbated age group reductions in EN functional connectivity were confirmed (left dlPFC) in men with ASD compared to NT, such that older adults with ASD demonstrated the greatest levels of hypoconnectivity. A significant correlation was confirmed between dlPFC connectivity and the SRS-2 Total Score in middle-age men with ASD, but not young adult men with ASD. Furthermore, exploratory analysis revealed a significant correlation with the SRS-2 Social Cognition Subscale for young and middle-aged ASD groups and ToL Total Moves. Conclusion Our findings suggest that ASD-related difficulties in social cognition and EN hypoconnectivity may get worse with age in men with ASD and is related to executive functioning. Further, exacerbated EN hypoconnectivity associated with older age in ASD may be a mechanism of increased ASD-related social cognition difficulties in older adults with ASD. Given the cross-sectional nature of this sample, longitudinal replication is needed. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2019.02.008 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=394 [article] Age group differences in executive network functional connectivity and relationships with social behavior in men with autism spectrum disorder [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Melissa J. M. WALSH, Auteur ; Leslie C. BAXTER, Auteur ; Christopher J. SMITH, Auteur ; B. Blair BRADEN, Auteur . - p.63-77. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders > 63 (July 2019) . - p.63-77 Mots-clés : Aging  Autism Spectrum Disorder  fMRI  Social behavior  Executive network  Executive functions Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Background Research suggests adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may use executive functions to compensate for social difficulties. Given hallmark age-related declines in executive functioning and the executive brain network in normal aging, there is concern that older adults with ASD may experience further declines in social functioning as they age. In a male-only sample, we hypothesized: 1) older adults with ASD would demonstrate greater ASD-related social behavior than young adults with ASD, 2) adults with ASD would demonstrate a greater age group reduction in connectivity of the executive brain network than neurotypical (NT) adults, and 3) that behavioral and neural mechanisms of executive functioning would predict ASD-related social difficulties in adults with ASD. Methods Participants were a cross-sectional sample of non-intellectually disabled young (ages 18–25) and middle-aged (ages 40-70) adult men with ASD and NT development (young adult ASD: n?=?24; middle-age ASD: n?=?25; young adult NT: n?=?15; middle-age NT: n?=?21). We assessed ASD-related social behavior via the self-report Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2) Total Score, with exploratory analyses of the Social Cognition Subscale. We assessed neural executive function via connectivity of the resting-state executive network (EN) as measured by independent component analysis. Correlations were investigated between SRS-2 Total Scores (with exploratory analyses of the Social Cognition Subscale), EN functional connectivity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), and a behavioral measure of executive function, Tower of London (ToL) Total Moves. Results We did not confirm a significant age group difference for adults with ASD on the SRS-2 Total Score; however, exploratory analysis revealed middle-age men with ASD had higher scores on the SRS-2 Social Cognition Subscale than young adult men with ASD. Exacerbated age group reductions in EN functional connectivity were confirmed (left dlPFC) in men with ASD compared to NT, such that older adults with ASD demonstrated the greatest levels of hypoconnectivity. A significant correlation was confirmed between dlPFC connectivity and the SRS-2 Total Score in middle-age men with ASD, but not young adult men with ASD. Furthermore, exploratory analysis revealed a significant correlation with the SRS-2 Social Cognition Subscale for young and middle-aged ASD groups and ToL Total Moves. Conclusion Our findings suggest that ASD-related difficulties in social cognition and EN hypoconnectivity may get worse with age in men with ASD and is related to executive functioning. Further, exacerbated EN hypoconnectivity associated with older age in ASD may be a mechanism of increased ASD-related social cognition difficulties in older adults with ASD. Given the cross-sectional nature of this sample, longitudinal replication is needed. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2019.02.008 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=394

Effects of age on the hippocampus and verbal memory in adults with autism spectrum disorder: Longitudinal versus cross-sectional findings / Broc A. PAGNI in Autism Research, 15-10 (October 2022)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism Research > 15-10 (October 2022) . - p.1810-1823 Titre : Effects of age on the hippocampus and verbal memory in adults with autism spectrum disorder: Longitudinal versus cross-sectional findings Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Broc A. PAGNI, Auteur ; Melissa J. M. WALSH, Auteur ; Edward OFORI, Auteur ; Kewei CHEN, Auteur ; Georgia SULLIVAN, Auteur ; Jocelyn ALVAR, Auteur ; Leanna MONAHAN, Auteur ; Nicolas GUERITHAULT, Auteur ; Shanna DELANEY, Auteur ; B. Blair BRADEN, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.1810-1823 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : aging/ASD in adults  executive  functioning  hippocampus  longitudinal data analysis  magnetic resonance imaging - structural  memory  neuroimaging Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Research studying aging in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is growing, but longitudinal work is needed. Autistic adults have increased risk of dementia, altered hippocampal volumes and fornix integrity, and verbal memory difficulties compared with neurotypical (NT) adults. This study examined longitudinal aging in middle-age adults with ASD versus a matched NT group, and compared findings with cross-sectional age effects across a broad adult age range. Participants were 194 adults with (n = 106; 74 male) and without (n = 88; 52 male) ASD, ages 18-71. Participants (n = 45; 40-70 age range) with two visits (2-3 years apart) were included in a longitudinal analysis. Hippocampal volume, fornix fractional anisotropy (FA), and verbal memory were measured via T1-weighted MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, respectively. Longitudinal mixed models were used for hippocampal system variables and reliable change index categories were used for Auditory Verbal Learning Test analyses. Multivariate regression was used for cross-sectional analyses. Middle-age adults with ASD had greater longitudinal hippocampal volume loss and were more likely to show clinically meaningful decline in short-term memory, compared with NT. In contrast, cross-sectional associations between increasing age and worsening short-term memory were identified in NT, but not autistic adults. Reduced fornix FA and long-term memory in ASD were found across the broad cross-sectional age range. These preliminary longitudinal findings suggest accelerated hippocampal volume loss in ASD and slightly higher rates of clinically-meaningful decline in verbal short-term memory. Contradictory cross-sectional and longitudinal results underscore the importance of longitudinal aging research in autistic adults. LAY SUMMARY: Autistic adults have increased risk of dementia, differences in brain memory structures, and difficulty with memory compared with neurotypical (NT) adults. However, there are no publications that follow the same middle-age autistic adults over time to see how their brain and memory change. Our preliminary findings in a small middle-age autism sample suggest a key memory brain structure, the hippocampus, may shrink faster over 2-3 years compared with NT, and short-term memory may become more challenging for some. Across a broad adult range, autistic adults also had reduced integrity of connections to the hippocampus and greater challenges with long-term memory. In our larger sample across a broad age range, the results did not hint at this aforementioned pattern of accelerated aging. This underscores the importance of more aging research in autism, and especially research where people are followed over time. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aur.2797 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=488 [article] Effects of age on the hippocampus and verbal memory in adults with autism spectrum disorder: Longitudinal versus cross-sectional findings [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Broc A. PAGNI, Auteur ; Melissa J. M. WALSH, Auteur ; Edward OFORI, Auteur ; Kewei CHEN, Auteur ; Georgia SULLIVAN, Auteur ; Jocelyn ALVAR, Auteur ; Leanna MONAHAN, Auteur ; Nicolas GUERITHAULT, Auteur ; Shanna DELANEY, Auteur ; B. Blair BRADEN, Auteur . - p.1810-1823. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism Research > 15-10 (October 2022) . - p.1810-1823 Mots-clés : aging/ASD in adults  executive  functioning  hippocampus  longitudinal data analysis  magnetic resonance imaging - structural  memory  neuroimaging Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Research studying aging in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is growing, but longitudinal work is needed. Autistic adults have increased risk of dementia, altered hippocampal volumes and fornix integrity, and verbal memory difficulties compared with neurotypical (NT) adults. This study examined longitudinal aging in middle-age adults with ASD versus a matched NT group, and compared findings with cross-sectional age effects across a broad adult age range. Participants were 194 adults with (n = 106; 74 male) and without (n = 88; 52 male) ASD, ages 18-71. Participants (n = 45; 40-70 age range) with two visits (2-3 years apart) were included in a longitudinal analysis. Hippocampal volume, fornix fractional anisotropy (FA), and verbal memory were measured via T1-weighted MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, respectively. Longitudinal mixed models were used for hippocampal system variables and reliable change index categories were used for Auditory Verbal Learning Test analyses. Multivariate regression was used for cross-sectional analyses. Middle-age adults with ASD had greater longitudinal hippocampal volume loss and were more likely to show clinically meaningful decline in short-term memory, compared with NT. In contrast, cross-sectional associations between increasing age and worsening short-term memory were identified in NT, but not autistic adults. Reduced fornix FA and long-term memory in ASD were found across the broad cross-sectional age range. These preliminary longitudinal findings suggest accelerated hippocampal volume loss in ASD and slightly higher rates of clinically-meaningful decline in verbal short-term memory. Contradictory cross-sectional and longitudinal results underscore the importance of longitudinal aging research in autistic adults. LAY SUMMARY: Autistic adults have increased risk of dementia, differences in brain memory structures, and difficulty with memory compared with neurotypical (NT) adults. However, there are no publications that follow the same middle-age autistic adults over time to see how their brain and memory change. Our preliminary findings in a small middle-age autism sample suggest a key memory brain structure, the hippocampus, may shrink faster over 2-3 years compared with NT, and short-term memory may become more challenging for some. Across a broad adult range, autistic adults also had reduced integrity of connections to the hippocampus and greater challenges with long-term memory. In our larger sample across a broad age range, the results did not hint at this aforementioned pattern of accelerated aging. This underscores the importance of more aging research in autism, and especially research where people are followed over time. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aur.2797 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=488

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