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The Role of Autism Risk Genes in Cognitive and Brain Aging Outcomes of Autistic Adults

Award Number: F31MH138112
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2025
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2028

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The Role of Autism Risk Genes in Cognitive and Brain Aging Outcomes of Autistic Adults - Project Summary/Abstract Autistic adults have a 2.6 times higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease compared to those without autism, and less than 0.001% of autism research publications include older autistic adults. Previously, in both cross- sectional and longitudinal designs, we published that middle-aged and older (MA+) autistic adults experience accelerated cognitive and brain aging compared to neurotypical adults. Thousands of risk alleles have been identified in autism spectrum disorder, and it is not known whether they impact cognitive aging risk. Instead of assessing each risk allele separately, polygenic risk scores (PRS) enable the computation of a “genomic dosage” unique to each individual. This project assesses the central hypothesis that autism PRS scores contribute to accelerated age-related: Aim 1) memory decline; Aim 2) temporal lobe aging; and Exploratory Aim 3) sex differences in cognitive and brain aging in MA+ autistic adults. The proposed research will significantly impact biological understanding of cognitive and brain aging and sex differences in autism by incorporating both molecular and systems-level approaches. We will use powered multilevel mixed models to evaluate age by autism PRS interactions in predicting Aim 1) verbal and visual short-term and long-term memory and Aim 2) cortical thickness and hippocampal volume in MA+ autistic adults. Exploratory Aim 3 will identify the contribution of autism risk genes on autism-related sex differences in these measures. Ms. Harker is determined to become a tenure-track professor at an R1 university and an expert in the neurogenomics of autism and aging. Her long-term goal is to direct a cross-disciplinary clinical laboratory that emphasizes inclusion and diversity in autism research by understanding the relationship between brain aging and genetic risk in autistic individuals across the lifespan, especially women. Ms. Harker’s past training and experiences of 1) being autistic, 2) writing autism advocacy articles, 3) being an autistic research participant, and 4) doctoral coursework have prepared her to assume the role of a doctoral candidate and attain her academic and professional career goals in autism research. In her current laboratories, she has gained foundational knowledge in neuroimaging statistics/neuropsychology, genomics, autism ethics, and professional development. Through this proposal, she can translate these developing skills into expertise to discover and compare aging differences for neurotypical and autistic adults. Training will occur primarily at Arizona State University (ASU). ASU is a well-regarded R1 institution with collaborations at Barrow Neurological Institute’s top- notch neuroimaging facilities. This is an optimal, supportive training environment for Ms. Harker to hone her skills in interdisciplinary neuroscience. In addition to the proposed goals, training will focus on professional development and dissemination of findings to the broader autism community and will be empowered by Ms. Harker’s unique perspective as an openly autistic adult.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $50,114 )
2026	2026	ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY	1475 N SCOTTSDALE RD STE 200	SCOTTSDALE	AZ	85257	MARICOPA	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	5/25/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$50,114
														Subtotal = $50,114

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $48,974 )
2024	2024	ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY	660 S MILL AVENUE STE 204	TEMPE	AZ	85281	MARICOPA	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	7/25/2024	NEW	$48,974
														Subtotal = $48,974

Grand Total All Awards = $99,088

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The Role of Autism Risk Genes in Cognitive and Brain Aging Outcomes of Autistic Adults

Award Number: F31MH138112

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2025

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2028

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