Self-reported memory of autistic young adults and associated real-world outcomes

Although autistic adults have demonstrated weaker memory performance on lab-based measures in comparison to neurotypical peers, research on self-reported memory abilities in this group is scarce. Shedding light on memory abilities of autistic adults is important, as memory difficulties may impact daily living outcomes, an area of difficulty for autistic individuals. Thus, the current study aimed to characterize the self-reported memory complaints of a large sample of autistic adults in comparison to neurotypical adults.

396 young autistic adults and 396 young neurotypical adults between the ages of 18 and 39 years and with similar background characteristics participated. Autistic adults were recruited from the Simons Powering Autism Research (SPARK) participant registry, and data from neurotypical adults were obtained from a large-scale internet study. The responses to the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire were compared by diagnostic group, and within the autistic group, relations between memory complaints and real-world outcomes (activities of daily living [ADLs] and postsecondary employment and educational activities) were examined.

The results indicated that young autistic adults reported greater memory problems than their neurotypical peers, regardless of memory type, and autistic adults reported a comparable pattern of complaints to their neurotypical peers (i.e., greater prospective memory complaints in comparison to retrospective memory complaints). Additionally, we found a negative association between memory complaints and outcomes (i.e., greater memory complaints were associated with less independence in ADLs and less favorable postsecondary outcomes).

The significant association between subjective memory complaints and real-world outcomes suggests that memory abilities are an important contributor to daily living skills and post-secondary outcomes among autistic adults and could represent a target for future intervention development.