Annals of General Psychiatry · Published 2026-06-22 · DOI 10.1186/s12991-026-00679-w
Rio Ishida, Kazuhiko Yamamuro, Michihiro Toritsuka, Tsutomu Takeda, Hiroto Tamakoshi, Natsuko Kashida, Takashi Okada, Nakao Iwata, Manabu Makinodan
Abstract Background This study examined whether the timing of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is associated with differences in intellectual ability in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without intellectual disability. Methods A total of 161 adults with ASD were categorized into three groups based on ACE onset: no ACEs (Group 0), early childhood ACEs (≤ 10 years; Group 1), and adolescent ACEs (11–18 years; Group 2). Intellectual ability was assessed using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV). Results Findings revealed that Group 1 outperformed Group 2 on the picture completion and figure weights subtests, suggesting that early ACE exposure may be linked to distinct cognitive profiles in ASD. To account for the higher severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, including hypervigilance, in Group 1 compared to Group 2, we conducted multivariate analyses of covariance and logistic regression to control for potential confounders such as years of education and PTSD symptom severity, given that hypervigilance may influence cognitive task performance. However, the observed differences remained significant. Conclusion These results suggest a potential association between the timing of ACE exposure and specific cognitive subdomains in adults with ASD. Furthermore, WAIS-IV subtests, particularly picture completion and figure weights, may serve as potential markers for identifying cognitive adaptations associated with early adversity in ASD individuals. Clinical Trial Registration Since this study was not a clinical trial, this section does not apply.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
Read the article at the publisher →
Ishida, R., Yamamuro, K., Toritsuka, M., et al. (2026). Timing of childhood adversity and cognitive profiles in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Annals of General Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-026-00679-w