Ageing and subjective cognitive decline in males and females: Associations with objective cognitive abilities, mental health, and autistic traits

Little is known about the impact of ageing on Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) and objective cognition in adults on the autism spectrum, and autism and autistic traits are not typically considered when assessing older adults in Memory Clinics for dementia. Therefore, individual variation in autistic traits have not been taken into account when producing normative data for such assessments. The current study aimed to examine SCD and objective cognitive performance in older adults (aged 50–78 years), investigating relationships with autistic traits, depression, anxiety, and sex. Relationships varied depending on sex: for males, SCD was associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression, and a higher degree of systemizing was associated with better speed of processing and backwards working memory span. For females, older age was associated with poorer cognitive flexibility. Findings indicate that relationships between subjective and objective cognitive abilities, autistic traits, and mental health differ based on sex in older adults. This may help to explain outcome variability in previous studies, and has important implications for the use, adaptation, and interpretation of tests used in Memory Clinics. • Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) in ageing is under-researched in adults on the autism spectrum. • We examined cognition in older adults, and relationships with autistic traits, depression, anxiety, and sex. • In males, SCD was associated with a greater degree of anxiety and depression. • In females, older age was associated with poorer cognitive flexibility. • Findings are important to the use, adaptation, and interpretation of tests used in Memory Clinics.