Hendry, Alexandra and Bedford, Rachael and Agyapong, M. and Begum Ali, Jannath and Bazelmans, Tessel and Ersoy, M. and Goodwin, Amy and Mason, Luke and Narvekar, N. and Pasco, G. and Johnson, Mark H. and Jones, Emily J.H. and Charman, T. (2025) Simple executive function as an endophenotype of autism-ADHD, and differing associations between simple versus complex executive functions and Autism/ADHD traits. Scientific Reports 15 , ISSN 2045-2322.
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Abstract
Autism and ADHD are associated with difficulties with Executive Functions (EFs), but the prevalence and nature of these difficulties in early development is not well understood. In this longitudinal study, 107 children with a family history of autism and/or ADHD (FH-autism/ADHD), and 24 children with No-FH-autism/ADHD completed multiple EF tasks (5 at age 2 years, 7 at age 3 years). Parents reported on their child’s autism- (Q-CHAT at age 2, SRS-2 at age 3), and ADHD-related traits (CBCL DSM-ADHD scale, both ages). Compared to the No-FH-autism/ADHD group, the FH-autism/ADHD group showed lower scores on simple EFs (involving response inhibition, and holding in mind) at ages 2 and 3. Exploratory analysis linked FH-autism specifically with lower Executive Attention (top-down attentional control) at age 2, and the combination of FH-autism and FH-ADHD with lower Complex EF (involving selectively deploying responses, or updating information) at age 3. Three-year-olds’ Simple EF scores were negatively associated with ADHD- related traits. Complex EF scores were negatively associated with autism traits (before correcting for multiple comparisons). Toddlers with a family history of autism and/or ADHD may benefit from interventions to support simple EF development, whilst those already showing autistic traits may benefit from support with more-complex EF skills.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Keyword(s) / Subject(s): | Executive Function, autism, ADHD, endophenotype, toddler, preschool |
| School: | Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Psychological Sciences |
| Research Centres and Institutes: | Brain and Cognitive Development, Centre for (CBCD) |
| Depositing User: | Jannath Begum Ali |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Feb 2025 16:32 |
| Last Modified: | 31 Mar 2025 14:20 |
| URI: | https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/55005 |
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