The functional impact of cognition in adults with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

Purpose and aim: The overall aim of this study was to examine the relationship between adaptive function and cognitive factors in young adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in adult age.

Methods: The study included 30 adults (age 18-30) diagnosed with ASD in adulthood. All participants were clinically referred to an adult psychiatric clinic for assessment. Adaptive functioning was measured with Adaptive Behavior Assessment System – 2nd edition (parent version). Wechsler scales of intelligence and Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System were used to measure intelligence and executive function.

Results: We found considerable adaptive functioning deficits regardless of Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) level. FSIQ, working memory and processing speed were positively associated with adaptive functioning. No associations were found between adaptive functioning and cognitive flexibility, inhibition, word generation or shifting. Regression analysis showed that working memory and processing speed predicted 23% of the variance in adaptive functioning in this group.

Conclusions: The results suggest that cognitive dysfunction could be an important area for intervention to improve adaptive functioning in ASD.

Keywords:

• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• autism spectrum disorder
• adaptive behaviour
• executive function
• cognitive ability

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the participants who willingly participated in this study and the staff at the NDD Assessment team in Helsingborg, Sweden for contributing to the assessments of the study participants.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical codes of the Regional Ethics Review Board in Lund, Sweden.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Region Skåne (the public healthcare district of Skåne, Sweden).

Notes on contributors

Johan Nyrenius

Johan Nyrenius is a clinical psychologist and a specialist in neuropsychology. He is a PhD student at the University of Gothenburg. His PhD project is aimed at exploring adult psychiatry patients with previously undiagnosed ASD in terms of psychiatric co-morbidity, adaptive functioning, psychosocial and cognitive factors, suicidality and alcohol/substance use.

Eva Billstedt

Eva Billstedt, PhD is a professor and director of the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre at the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the University of Gothenburg. She is the author of over 65 original peer-reviewed publications on neurodevelopmental disorders. Her research interests include all aspects of neurodevelopmental disorders, especially autism and outcomes of neurodevelopmental disorders. She is supervising Johan Nyrenius’ PhD – project.