Poster Session 10 Program Schedule
02/17/2024
09:00 am - 10:15 am
Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120)
Poster Session 10: Neurodevelopmental | Congenital Conditions
Final Abstract #103
Neurocognitive and Self-Reported Psychosocial and Behavioural Functioning in Siblings of Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Conditions: A Study Using Remote Self-Administered Testing
Brittany Wolff, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Vithor Franco, 3São Francisco University, Campinas, Brazil
Iliana Magiati, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Carmela Pestell, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Emma Glasson, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Australia
Category: Autism Spectrum Disorders/Developmental Disorders/Intellectual Disability
Keyword 1: executive functions
Keyword 2: autism spectrum disorder
Keyword 3: technology
Objective:
Objective: This study compared and explored the neurocognitive profiles of siblings of persons with and without neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs), and associations between objective test performance and self-reported psychosocial functioning.
Participants and Methods:
Participants and Methods: Siblings of persons with and without NDCs (64 NDC and 64 control siblings; mean age 19.88 years, range 11-27 years, 73.44% female, 75.78% White Caucasian) completed self-report questionnaires and self-administered computerized neurocognitive tests of executive functioning (EF). Using Bayesian analyses, we examined cross-sectional associations between self-reported psychosocial functioning and cognitive test performance, and predictors of EF over 15 months.
Results:
Results: NDC siblings had poorer working memory, inhibition, attention, and shifting compared to controls, as measured by experimental paradigms on the backward Corsi span, N-Back 2-back task, Stop Signal Task, Sustained Attention to Response Task, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (effect size δ ranging 0.49 to 0.64). Bayesian cross-sectional networks revealed negative emotion reactivity and working memory difficulties were central to the NDC sibling network. Over 15 months, poorer EF (k low test scores) was predicted by negative emotion reactivity, sleep problems, and anxiety, over and above effects of age and subclinical autistic and ADHD traits. Siblings of autistic individuals and persons with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder had higher rates of neurocognitive and psychiatric difficulties than other NDCs and controls (Bayes factors > 20).
Conclusions:
Conclusions: Neurocognitive difficulties were associated with transdiagnostic vulnerability to poorer wellbeing in NDC siblings. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of remote online cognitive testing and highlight the importance of individualised prevention and intervention for NDC siblings.
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