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

> **NIH NIH F32** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA · 2024 · $79,516

## Abstract

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.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10909949
- **Project number:** 5F32AG079615-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA
- **Principal Investigator:** LAURA ANNE FRIEDMAN
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $79,516
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-08-22 → 2025-08-21

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10909949

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10909949, Neuropsychological Profiles and Risk for Dementia-Related Disease in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (5F32AG079615-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10909949. Licensed CC0.

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