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

doi:10.1007/s10803-021-05227-x

. 2022 Oct;52(10):4490-4504.

doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-05227-x. Epub 2021 Oct 22.

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

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.

PMID: 34677753
PMCID: PMC9090201
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05227-x

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

Molly B D Prigge et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Oct.

. 2022 Oct;52(10):4490-4504.

doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-05227-x. Epub 2021 Oct 22.

Authors

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.

PMID: 34677753
PMCID: PMC9090201
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05227-x

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Longitudinal changes in intelligence scores over time in ASD and TDC

**Fig. 2**
Individual predicted change estimates for ASD participants with 4+ time points

**Fig. 3**
NVIQ-VIQ discrepancy score changes in ASD subgroups

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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[1] Akaike H. A new look at the statistical model identification. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control. 1974;19(6):716–723. doi: 10.1109/TAC.1974.1100705. - DOI

[2] Akaike H. A new look at the statistical model identification. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control. 1974;19(6):716–723. doi: 10.1109/TAC.1974.1100705. - DOI

[3] Akshoomoff N. Use of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning for the assessment of young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Child Neuropsychology. 2006;12(4–5):269–277. doi: 10.1080/09297040500473714. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Akshoomoff N. Use of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning for the assessment of young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Child Neuropsychology. 2006;12(4–5):269–277. doi: 10.1080/09297040500473714. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Alexander AL, Lee JE, Lazar M, Boudos R, DuBray MB, Oakes TR, Miller JN, Lu J, Jeong EK, McMahon WM, Bigler ED, Lainhart JE. Diffusion tensor imaging of the corpus callosum in Autism. NeuroImage. 2007;34(1):61–73. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.08.032. - DOI - PubMed

[6] Alexander AL, Lee JE, Lazar M, Boudos R, DuBray MB, Oakes TR, Miller JN, Lu J, Jeong EK, McMahon WM, Bigler ED, Lainhart JE. Diffusion tensor imaging of the corpus callosum in Autism. NeuroImage. 2007;34(1):61–73. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.08.032. - DOI - PubMed

[7] American Psychiatric Association . Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV. 4. American Psychiatric Association; 1994.

[8] American Psychiatric Association . Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV. 4. American Psychiatric Association; 1994.

[9] Anderson DK, Liang JW, Lord C. Predicting young adult outcome among more and less cognitively able individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2014;55(5):485–494. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12178. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Anderson DK, Liang JW, Lord C. Predicting young adult outcome among more and less cognitively able individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2014;55(5):485–494. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12178. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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

Affiliations

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

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Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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Abstract

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