Torenvliet, C.; Groenman, A.P.; Van der Burg, E.; Charlton, Rebecca A; Hamilton, C.J. and Geurts, H.M.. 2024. Memory strategies in autistic and older adults. Autism Research, 17(10), pp. 2092-2104. ISSN 1939-3792 [Article]

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Abstract or Description

Memory strategies in autistic adults seem to mimic strategies at older age, as both younger autistic and older non-autistic individuals use fewer semantic features in visual memory tasks. Therefore, the current study aims to investigate whether early differences in memory strategies lead to altered age-related effects in autism, particularly whether initial difficulties in strategy use become advantageous at older age (i.e., “protective aging”). A total of 147 participants across four groups (autistic younger/older, non-autistic younger/older) completed an online assessment. This assessment included a recognition version of the Visual Patterns Test (VPT) to evaluate semantic strategy use in visual memory, the Just Noticeable Difference (JND) size task for assessing visual processing, and the Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire to evaluate subjective memory functioning and strategy use (MMQ). Unexpectedly, all groups benefited from semantic features on the VPT, although the older groups performed less accurately and slower than the younger groups. The JND Size task showed no group differences. Autistic adults rated their MMQ memory as worse than non-autistic adults, despite reporting greater strategy use. These results indicate that cognitive strategies might be more similar between younger/older and autistic/non-autistic people than previously expected, although notable discrepancies between objective and subjective measures were present. They also substantiate previously reported parallel (i.e., similar) age-related effects between autistic and non-autistic people.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.3195
Additional Information:	Funding information: This study was funded by the VICI Grant (453–16-006) awarded to HMG by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).
Data Access Statement:	The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Keywords:	ageing, autism, memory strategies, visual memory
Departments, Centres and Research Units:	Psychology
Dates:	Date Event 23 June 2024 Accepted 15 July 2024 Published Online October 2024 Published
Item ID:	37395
Date Deposited:	29 Jul 2024 09:52
Last Modified:	28 Oct 2024 11:23
Peer Reviewed:	Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.
URI:	https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/37395

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