Comparison of behaviors characteristic of autism spectrum disorder behaviors and behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of dementia

Rhodus, Elizabeth K.; Barber, Justin M.; Abner, Erin L.; Bardach, Shoshana H.; Gibson, Allison; Jicha, Gregory A.

doi:10.1080/13607863.2020.1849025

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…Thus, it is unlikely that the dementia screener (AD8) and measure of memory failures (PRMQ) were simply reflecting ASD symptom severity instead of cognitive decline. However, one challenge in the field moving forward is how to disentangle dementia symptoms from autistic traits and associated cognitive features (e.g., Rhodus et al, 2022). Speculatively, our observation that greater autistic traits at an earlier time point were associated with greater self‐reported cognitive declines could indicate that those with elevated autistic traits are more likely to show cognitive declines in the future.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self‐reported cognitive decline among middle and older age autistic adults

et al. 2022

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Very little is known about autistic adults as they age. Early evidence suggests a potentially high risk for dementia and atypical cognitive decline in autistic middle age and older adults. Research in the general population indicates that self-reported cognitive decline may predict future dementia earlier than performance-based measures. Nevertheless, self-report dementia screeners have not been used to date in autism research. Therefore, in a sample of middle and older age autistic adults (N=210), participants completed a self-rated dementia screener, the AD8, to describe the prevalence of cognitive decline, to examine associations of cognitive decline with age, sex designated at birth, and autistic traits, and to document the psychometrics of a dementia screener in autistic adults. We found high rates of cognitive decline with 30% of the sample screening positive. The most common symptoms were declining interest in leisure activities, and increases in everyday problems with thinking, memory, and judgment. There was evidence that autistic individuals designated female at birth may be more vulnerable to cognitive decline than autistic individuals designated male at birth. Notably, reports of cognitive decline did not vary by age. Modestly elevated autistic traits were found in those screening positive versus negative for cognitive decline. Finally, the psychometrics of the dementia screener were good, including convergent validity with an independent measure of current memory problems. These results could signal an emerging public health crisis in autistic adults as they age, and support the potential utility of self-report measures for early screening for cognitive decline in this population.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self‐reported cognitive decline among middle and older age autistic adults

et al. 2022

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“…Recent studies and reviews have stimulated renewed interest in the intersectionality between ASD and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD; Nadeem et al, 2021 ; Hu et al, 2022 ; Rhodus et al, 2022 ). ASD is a developmental condition characterized by lifelong deficits in social–emotional reciprocity, in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, and in developing, maintaining, and understand relationships, along with restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a recent study, Rhodus et al, found several autistic behaviors such as social withdrawal, ritualistic behavior, resistance to change and avoidance of eye contact in a group of adults with AD and AD related dementias ( Rhodus et al, 2022 ). These behaviors are not typically elicited on routine AD screens and addressing these unique behaviors was proposed to improve the quality of life for individuals with AD ( Rhodus et al, 2022 ). Looking in the opposite direction, AD drugs have been used “off label” for ASD, including donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, memantine, and tacrine, resulting in several reports of improvement in core and co-morbid features of ASD (rev.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neurodevelopmental disorders and microcephaly: how apoptosis, the cell cycle, tau and amyloid-β precursor protein APPly

Sokol,

Lahiri

2023

Front. Mol. Neurosci.

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Recent studies promote new interest in the intersectionality between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Alzheimer’s Disease. We have reported high levels of Amyloid-β Precursor Protein (APP) and secreted APP-alpha (sAPPa) and low levels of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides 1–40 and 1–42 (Aβ40, Aβ42) in plasma and brain tissue from children with ASD. A higher incidence of microcephaly (head circumference less than the 3rd percentile) associates with ASD compared to head size in individuals with typical development. The role of Aβ peptides as contributors to acquired microcephaly in ASD is proposed. Aβ may lead to microcephaly via disruption of neurogenesis, elongation of the G1/S cell cycle, and arrested cell cycle promoting apoptosis. As the APP gene exists on Chromosome 21, excess Aβ peptides occur in Trisomy 21-T21 (Down’s Syndrome). Microcephaly and some forms of ASD associate with T21, and therefore potential mechanisms underlying these associations will be examined in this review. Aβ peptides’ role in other neurodevelopmental disorders that feature ASD and acquired microcephaly are reviewed, including dup 15q11.2-q13, Angelman and Rett syndrome.

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