Atypical Visually Guided Precision Grip Control in Middle-Aged and Older Autistic Adults.

Researchers tested fine motor skills in 108 adults (52 autistic, 56 non-autistic) aged 30-73 using a grip strength task. Autistic adults had more difficulty with precise hand movements - they were slower to respond, took longer to complete tasks, and had less consistent grip strength. Older autistic adults showed more widespread difficulties than middle-aged ones. The study found that motor problems and repetitive behaviors may share similar brain networks, and that fine motor difficulties continue into older age for autistic people.

This study examined fine motor control in 52 autistic and 56 non-autistic adults aged 30-73 years using a precision grip task. Autistic adults demonstrated multiple motor difficulties including prolonged grip duration, delayed reaction times, greater force overshooting at lower levels, and increased grip force variability during sustained phases. Interestingly, they showed faster reaction times during grip relaxation. Age-related differences emerged, with middle-aged autistic adults showing primarily force variability issues, while older autistic adults exhibited broader spatial and temporal impairments.

Temporal grip variables correlated with age and repetitive behaviors, suggesting shared neurobiological pathways between motor dysfunction and core autistic traits. These findings indicate that manual motor impairments persist throughout adulthood in autism.

Fine motor assessments should be considered across the lifespan for autistic adults, with particular attention to age-related changes. Interventions targeting precision motor control may benefit from addressing both motor and repetitive behavior components. Occupational therapy approaches may need age-specific modifications for older autistic adults.

The study design is not clearly specified in the abstract. Cross-sectional design limits understanding of developmental trajectories. The relationship between laboratory grip tasks and real-world functional outcomes is unclear. Limited information about participant characteristics and potential confounding factors.

Sensorimotor impairments are well documented in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, little is known about how these difficulties present in middle-aged and older autistic adults or how they relate to demographic factors and autistic traits. In this study, 52 autistic and 56 age- and sex-matched non-autistic adults (aged 30-73 years) completed a visually guided precision grip task designed to assess temporal (reaction time, duration), spatial (force accuracy, variability), and dynamic (rate of force change) features of grip control under two conditions: varying motor output demands (target force test) and visual feedback (visual gain test). Autistic adults showed prolonged duration, delayed reaction time, and greater target overshooting at lower force levels during the rise phase.

During the sustained phase, they exhibited increased grip force variability across both tasks. In contrast, autistic adults demonstrated shorter reaction times during the relaxation phase. Subgroup analyses revealed that the middle-aged autistic subgroup displayed elevated grip force variability, whereas the older autistic subgroup showed broader impairments affecting both spatial and temporal aspects of precision gripping. Within the autistic group, temporal grip force variables under the low target force condition were significantly associated with age and repetitive behaviors.

These findings demonstrate that manual motor impairments persist into adulthood in ASD, and suggest shared neurobiological networks that underlie both motor dysfunction and core autistic traits.