Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40481277›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of geriatric psychiatry2025

Autism, Diagnostics, and Dementia: A Consensus Report From the 2nd International Summit on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia.

Matthew P Janicki, Philip McCallion, Nancy Jokinen, Frode Kibsgaard Larsen, Kathyrn P Service, Dawna T Mughal, Karen Watchman, Tiziano Gomiero, Seth M Keller

Abstract readConsensus StatementReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Matthew P JanickiUniversity of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1053-1748
Philip McCallionTemple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-5129-6399
Nancy JokinenUniversity of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, Canada.
Frode Kibsgaard LarsenNorwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.ORCID 0000-0003-4929-4137
Kathyrn P ServiceNurse Practitioner Consultant, Northampton, Massachusetts, USA.
Dawna T MughalGannon University, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID 0009-0008-7665-1519
Karen WatchmanUniversity of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland.ORCID 0000-0003-0000-3589
Tiziano GomieroLega del filo d'oro, Osimo, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2931-9571
Seth M KellerNational Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices, Rockport, Maine, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe second International Summit on Intellectual Disability and Dementia, held in 2023, highlighted the unique challenges of diagnosing dementia in older autistic adults, particularly those with intellectual disabilities, due to the complex interplay of cognitive, communicative, and behavioral factors. This article addresses key diagnostic issues and post-diagnostic considerations for this population.

methodA consensus report was developed by the Summit's Autism/Dementia Working Group through background reviews, expert discussions at the Summit, and iterative draft revisions, incorporating feedback from internal and external stakeholders. Key issues were extracted from the report and abridged for this manuscript.

resultsDiagnostic challenges stem from overlapping symptoms of co-occurring neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions, rendering standard dementia tools insufficient. Comprehensive evaluations tailored to autism-related traits, sensory sensitivities, and alternative communication methods are essential. Building diagnostic capacity among clinicians and fostering multidisciplinary collaboration are critical. Longitudinal assessments, initiated before dementia symptoms appear, facilitate early detection of subtle changes. Emerging biomarkers and neuroimaging techniques show promise and should be incorporated where feasible. Accommodations, such as virtual assessments in familiar settings, can enhance diagnostic accuracy by reducing anxiety. Creating transition processes from diagnostics to post-diagnostic supports will aid in mitigating challenges and enhance life quality when dementia is a factor.

conclusionsResearch and clinician education are urgently needed to improve diagnostic approaches and streamline the transition from diagnosis to tailored post-diagnostic support. An integrated framework of comprehensive efforts is vital for our better understanding of age-associated neuropathological diagnostics and enabling long-term well-being of older autistic adults with dementia.

Indexed as

Autistic DisorderDementiaIntellectual DisabilityAgedConsensusHumansASDautismdementiadiagnosticsneuropathologiesrisk factors

Identifiers

PMID40481277
PMCPMC12144002

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.