Neuropsychological Profiles and Risk for Dementia-Related Disease in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

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PROJECT SUMMARY Recent work suggests that mothers of children with disabilities are at increased risk for accelerated cognitive aging. Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in particular, may be especially susceptible to atypical aging given their elevated rates of key risk factors for dementia relative to mothers of typically developing children or children with other neurodevelopmental disorders. ASD is also a heritable condition, and emerging research indicates similar effects of tauopathy in ASD and Alzheimer’s disease. Though it is not known if mothers of children with ASD also have tauopathy as a result of their genetic liability, this possibility may have an impact on atypical cognitive aging in this group. The theoretical framework from this research is based on the Diathesis-Stress model, which posits that environmental or psychosocial factors (e.g., stress) moderate the gene-phenotype relationship. Understanding risk for atypical cognitive decline in mothers of children with ASD is important given the high prevalence of ASD in the population (1 in 54 children). Moreover, a significant number of mothers of children with ASD (up to 65%) continue to be caregivers for their adult children, resulting in increased stress, depression, loneliness, reduced social support, and poor sleep, all of which are risk factors for dementia-related disease. This project will address gaps in the literature on cognitive decline in mothers of children with ASD and associated risk factors. Aim 1 will compare the neuropsychological profiles of mothers of children with ASD and mothers of typically developing children, as well as age effects, using a comprehensive battery. Aim 2 will examine the effects of risk factors (i.e., stress, depression, loneliness, reduced social support, and poor sleep quality) on neuropsychological test performance within mothers of children with ASD. This project will provide insight into atypical cognitive aging among mothers of children with ASD, which may have broader consequences on their children who continue to live at home and depend on their parents as caregivers after high school. This research will be implemented in an ideal training environment with a strong infrastructure for aging research at the University of South Carolina and with the support of an experienced mentorship team with expertise in aging, neuropsychological assessments, and Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. The training plan focuses on the development of the trainee in: (1) theories, measurement, and interpretation of neuropsychological assessments, (2) trajectories of typical aging and aging in dementia-related disease, and (3) professional development. The proposed study and training plan will help the trainee pursue a line of research on the risk for dementia-related disease in mothers of children with ASD.