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SUMMARY:Cognitive aging in (older) autistic adults - Prof. Hilde M. Geurts
 \, University of Amsterdam
DTSTART:20241204T113000Z
DTEND:20241204T123000Z
UID:TALK225001@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Simon Braschi
DESCRIPTION:Neurodevelopmental conditions\, like autism\, are in the diagn
 ostic manuals defined as conditions with early atypical brain development 
 which has cascading negative effect on cognitive processes important for t
 he entire lifespan. Difference on both the brain level and cognitive level
  between autistic people and ‘neurotypicals’ are also the starting poi
 nt for the neurodiversity paradigm. However\, to understand the concept\, 
 course\, and consequences of these cognitive differences and to provide ad
 equate support when needed\, it is crucial to study the full life span\, t
 hus including old age. Unfortunately\, autism studies into old age are sca
 rce. This is especially worrisome as findings from epidemiological studies
  suggest that autistic people have an increased risk for developing neurod
 egenerative conditions such as dementia and Parkinson disease. Moreover\, 
 the cognitive differences between autistic and non-autistic children and t
 eens seem to be the most prominent in those cognitive domains that are kno
 wn to be sensitive to cognitive decline (e.g.\, information processing spe
 ed\, executive functioning). Therefore\, the dominant assumption is that a
 utistic adults have an increased risk for accelerated aging. The primary l
 ogical step would be to test cognition\, but this was hardly done.  The fi
 rst cross-sectional cognitive study we conducted challenged the accelerate
 d cognitive aging assumption as patterns of parallel aging and protective 
 aging were observed as well. In this talk I will discuss recent evidence i
 n favor of and against the accelerative aging assumption and how increased
  heterogeneity among autistic adults increases the complexity of obtaining
  overarching conclusions.
LOCATION:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87076030035?pwd=XUpJuh8jiR0mae1AhkV79qb
 g8MtlSM.1
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