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

项目摘要 最近的研究表明，残疾儿童的母亲患加速认知障碍的风险增加。 衰老特别是自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）儿童的母亲，可能特别容易受到 非典型衰老，因为与典型衰老的母亲相比， 发育中的儿童或患有其他神经发育障碍的儿童。ASD也是一种遗传性疾病， 新的研究表明，tau蛋白病在ASD和阿尔茨海默病中具有相似的作用。虽然它不是 已知如果患有ASD的儿童的母亲也由于其遗传易感性而患有tau蛋白病， 可能会对这个群体的非典型认知老化产生影响。本研究的理论框架是 基于素质压力模型，该模型假定环境或心理社会因素（例如，应力）， 调节基因-表型关系。了解母亲非典型认知能力下降的风险 由于ASD在人群中的高患病率（54名儿童中有1名），患有ASD的儿童非常重要。此外，委员会认为， 相当多的ASD儿童的母亲（高达65%）继续照顾他们的成年人， 孩子，导致压力增加，抑郁，孤独，社会支持减少，睡眠不好，所有这些 这是痴呆相关疾病的危险因素。这个项目将解决认知方面的文献空白 ASD儿童母亲的患病率下降及相关风险因素。目的1将比较神经心理学 ASD儿童的母亲和发育正常儿童的母亲的概况，以及年龄效应， 使用综合电池。目标2将检查风险因素的影响（即，压力，抑郁， 孤独，社会支持减少，睡眠质量差）对神经心理测试表现的影响。 自闭症儿童的母亲这个项目将提供洞察非典型认知老化的母亲， 患有ASD的儿童，这可能对继续住在家里的孩子产生更广泛的影响， 高中毕业后依靠父母照顾他们本研究将在一个理想的培训中实施 环境与强大的基础设施，老龄化研究在南卡罗来纳州大学和与 支持经验丰富的导师团队，拥有衰老、神经心理评估和 阿尔茨海默氏症和其他与痴呆有关的疾病。培训计划注重学员的发展 在：（1）理论，测量和神经心理学评估的解释，（2）典型的轨迹 老龄化和老年痴呆症相关疾病，和（3）专业发展。拟议的研究和 一项培训计划将帮助受训者进行一系列关于母亲患痴呆症相关疾病风险的研究 自闭症儿童

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.