Longitudinal Stability of Intellectual Functioning in Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Age 3 Through Mid-adulthood

Molly B D Prigge; Erin D Bigler; Nicholas Lange; Jubel Morgan; Alyson Froehlich; Abigail Freeman; Kristina Kellett; Karen L Kane; Carolyn K King; June Taylor; Douglas C Dean 3rd; Jace B King; Jeff S Anderson; Brandon A Zielinski; Andrew L Alexander; Janet E Lainhart

doi:10.1007/s10803-021-05227-x

Longitudinal Stability of Intellectual Functioning in Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Age 3 Through Mid-adulthood

J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Oct;52(10):4490-4504. doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-05227-x. Epub 2021 Oct 22.

Authors

Molly B D Prigge^#¹, Erin D Bigler^#^{2

3

4

5}, Nicholas Lange⁶, Jubel Morgan⁷, Alyson Froehlich⁸, Abigail Freeman⁹, Kristina Kellett¹⁰, Karen L Kane⁹, Carolyn K King⁷, June Taylor⁷, Douglas C Dean 3rd^{9

11

12}, Jace B King⁷, Jeff S Anderson⁷, Brandon A Zielinski^{3

13}, Andrew L Alexander^{9

12

14}, Janet E Lainhart^{9

14}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Radiology Research, University of Utah, 729 Arapeen Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA. molly.prigge@hsc.utah.edu.
² Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
³ Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
⁵ Department of Neurology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, Harvard School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
⁷ Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Radiology Research, University of Utah, 729 Arapeen Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA.
⁸ Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
⁹ Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
¹¹ Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
¹² Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
¹³ Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Intelligence (IQ) scores are used in educational and vocational planning for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) yet little is known about the stability of IQ throughout development. We examined longitudinal age-related IQ stability in 119 individuals with ASD (3-36 years of age at first visit) and 128 typically developing controls. Intelligence measures were collected over a 20-year period. In ASD, Full Scale (FSIQ) and Verbal (VIQ) Intelligence started lower in childhood and increased at a greater rate with age relative to the control group. By early adulthood, VIQ and working memory stabilized, whereas nonverbal and perceptual scores continued to change. Our results suggest that in individuals with ASD, IQ estimates may be dynamic in childhood and young adulthood.

Keywords: ASD; Autism spectrum disorder; Cognitive development; Intelligence; Longitudinal study; Stability.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged, 80 and over
Autism Spectrum Disorder*
Child, Preschool
Cognition
Humans
Intelligence
Intelligence Tests
Memory, Short-Term
Young Adult

Abstract

MeSH terms

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