Janet E. Lainhart, MD

Position title: Psychiatrist and Professor, Psychiatry

MD, Wayne State University
Professor, Psychiatry

Contact Information

Waisman Center
1500 Highland Avenue
Room T227
Madison, WI 53705
608.262.9667
lainhart@waisman.wisc.edu
Toward Healthy Aging in Adults with Autism Study
ISLA – Interdisciplinary Science to Learn About Autism

Research Statement

Janet Lainhart’s research focuses on understanding autism across the lifespan, with a particular emphasis on promoting healthy aging in autistic individuals. As lead principal investigator of the NIH Autism Center of Excellence project, “Toward Healthy Aging in Autism: A Longitudinal Clinical and Multimodal Brain Imaging Study,” Lainhart is leading a groundbreaking investigation into the physical, mental, and brain health of autistic adults as they age.

Recent findings suggest that older adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may face shorter life expectancies and increased physical and mental health challenges compared to the general population. In response, Lainhart’s team is enrolling a large, diverse cohort of male and female adults with and without ASD. Using a comprehensive set of clinical, behavioral, and neuroimaging measures, the study aims to track changes in well-being, health, and brain structure and function over time.

The overarching goal is to identify aging-related differences that contribute to varied outcomes—including both decline and resilience—in autistic adults. By uncovering the biological and psychosocial factors that influence long-term health, this research seeks to inform strategies that support healthier, more fulfilling lives for autistic individuals throughout adulthood.

Selected Publications

PubMed

Feldman, D., Prigge, M., Alexander, A., Zielinski, B., Lainhart, J., & King, J. (2025). Flexible nonlinear modeling reveals age-related differences in resting-state functional brain connectivity in autistic males from childhood to mid-adulthood. Molecular autism, 16(1), 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-025-00657-1
Peterson, M., Prigge, M. B. D., Floris, D. L., Bigler, E. D., Zielinski, B., King, J. B., Lange, N., Alexander, A. L., Lainhart, J. E., & Nielsen, J. A. (2024). Reduced Lateralization of Multiple Functional Brain Networks in Autistic Males. Journal of neurodevelopmental disorders, 16(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s11689-024-09529-w
DiPiero, M., Cordash, H., Prigge, M. B., King, C. K., Morgan, J., Guerrero-Gonzalez, J., Adluru, N., King, J. B., Lange, N., Bigler, E. D., Zielinski, B. A., Alexander, A. L., Lainhart, J. E., & Dean, D. C., 3rd (2023). Tract- and gray matter- based spatial statistics show white matter and gray matter microstructural differences in autistic males. Frontiers in neuroscience, 17, 1231719. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1231719
DiPiero, M. A., Surgent, O. J., Travers, B. G., Alexander, A. L., Lainhart, J. E., & Dean Iii, D. C. (2023). Gray matter microstructure differences in autistic males: A gray matter based spatial statistics study. NeuroImage. Clinical, 37, 103306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103306
Prigge, M., Bigler, E. D., Lange, N., Morgan, J., Froehlich, A., Freeman, A., Kellett, K., Kane, K. L., King, C. K., Taylor, J., Dean, D. C., 3rd, King, J. B., Anderson, J. S., Zielinski, B. A., Alexander, A. L., & Lainhart, J. E. (2022). Longitudinal stability of intellectual functioning in autism spectrum disorder: From age 3 through mid-adulthood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52(10), 4490–4504. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05227-x
Knussmann, G. N., Anderson, J. S., Prigge, M., Dean, D. C., 3rd, Lange, N., Bigler, E. D., Alexander, A. L., Lainhart, J. E., Zielinski, B. A., & King, J. B. (2022). Test-retest reliability of FreeSurfer-derived volume, area and cortical thickness from MPRAGE and MP2RAGE brain MRI images. Neuroimage. Reports, 2(2), 100086. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynirp.2022.100086
Peterson, M., Prigge, M., Bigler, E. D., Zielinski, B., King, J. B., Lange, N., Alexander, A., Lainhart, J. E., & Nielsen, J. A. (2021). Evidence for normal extra-axial cerebrospinal fluid volume in autistic males from middle childhood to adulthood. NeuroImage, 240, 118387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118387
Lainhart J. E. (2021). Sex Differences in Cerebral Development in Autism. Biological psychiatry, 90(5), 278–280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.06.015
Prigge, M., Lange, N., Bigler, E. D., King, J. B., Dean, D. C., 3rd, Adluru, N., Alexander, A. L., Lainhart, J. E., & Zielinski, B. A. (2021). A 16-year study of longitudinal volumetric brain development in males with autism. NeuroImage, 236, 118067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118067
Legare JM, Pauli RM, Hecht JT, Bober MB, Smid CJ, Modaff P, Little ME, Rodriguez-Buritica DF, Serna ME, Alade AY, Liu C, Hoover-Fong JE, Hashmi SS.(2021). CLARITY: Co-occurrences in achondroplasia-craniosynostosis, seizures, and decreased risk of diabetes mellitus. American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part A, 185(4):1168-1174. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62096.
Dean DC 3rd, Freeman A, Lainhart J. (2020). The development of the social brain in baby siblings of children with autism. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 33(2):110-116. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000572. PMID: 31815759; PMCID: PMC7027937.
Green, R. R., Bigler, E. D., Froehlich, A., Prigge, M., Zielinski, B. A., Travers, B. G., Anderson, J. S., Alexander, A., Lange, N., & Lainhart, J. E. (2019). Beery VMI and Brain Volumetric Relations in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of pediatric neuropsychology, 5(3), 77–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40817-019-00069-z
King JB, Prigge MBD, King CK, Morgan J, Weathersby F, Fox JC, Dean DC 3rd, Freeman A, Villaruz JAM, Kane KL, Bigler ED, Alexander AL, Lange N, Zielinski B, Lainhart JE, Anderson JS. (2019). Generalizability and reproducibility of functional connectivity in autism. Molecular Autism, 24;10:27. doi: 10.1186/s13229-019-0273-5.
Kecskemeti S, Samsonov A, Velikina J, Field AS, Turski P, Rowley H, Lainhart JE, Alexander AL. (2018). Robust Motion Correction Strategy for Structural MRI in Unsedated Children Demonstrated with Three-dimensional Radial MPnRAGE. Radiology, 289(2):509-516. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2018180180. Epub 2018 Jul 31.
Prigge MBD, Bigler ED, Travers BG, Froehlich A, Abildskov T, Anderson JS, Alexander AL, Lange N, Lainhart JE, Zielinski BA. (2018). Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) in Relation to Longitudinal Cortical Thickness Changes in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(10):3319-3329. doi: 10.1007/s10803-018-3566-1.
McLaughlin K, Travers BG, Dadalko OI, Dean DC 3rd, Tromp D, Adluru N, Destiche D, Freeman A, Prigge MD, Froehlich A, Duffield TC, Zielinski BA, Bigler ED, Lange N, Anderson JS, Alexander AL, Lainhart JE. (2018). Longitudinal development of thalamic and internal capsule microstructure in autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research, 11(3):450-462.
Lalani SJ, Duffield TC, Trontel HG, Bigler ED, Abildskov TJ, Froehlich A, Prigge MBD, Travers BG, Anderson JS, Zielinski BA, Alexander A, Lange N, Lainhart JE. (2017). Auditory attention in autism spectrum disorder: An exploration of volumetric magnetic resonance imaging findings. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 26:1-16.
Travers BG, Bigler ED, Duffield TC, Prigge MDB, Froehlich AL, Lange N, Alexander AL, Lainhart JE. (2017). Longitudinal development of manual motor ability in autism spectrum disorder from childhood to mid-adulthood relates to adaptive daily living skills. Developmental Science, 20(4).
Dean DC 3rd, Lange N, Travers BG, Prigge MB, Matsunami N, Kellett KA, Freeman A, Kane KL, Adluru N, Tromp DP, Destiche DJ, Samsin D, Zielinski BA, Fletcher PT, Anderson JS, Froehlich AL, Leppert MF, Bigler ED, Lainhart JE, Alexander AL. (2017). Multivariate characterization of white matter heterogeneity in autism spectrum disorder. NeuroImage: Clinical, 6;14:54-66.
Dean DC 3rd, Travers BG, Adluru N, Tromp do PM, Destiche DJ, Samsin D, Prigge MB, Zielinski BA, Fletcher PT, Anderson JS, Froehlich AL, Bigler ED, Lange N, Lainhart JE, Alexander AL. (2016) Investigating the Microstructural Correlation of White Matter in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Brain Connectivity, 6(5):415-33.
Green RR, Bigler ED, Froehlich A, Prigge MB, Travers BG, Cariello AN, Anderson JS, Zielinski BA, Alexander A, Lange N, Lainhart JE. (2016). Beery VMI performance in autism spectrum disorder. Child Neuropsychology, 22(7):795-817.
Farmer CA, Kaat AJ, Mazurek MO, Lainhart JE, DeWitt MB, Cook EH, Butter EM, Aman MG. (2016) Confirmation of the Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Children’s Scale of Hostility and Aggression: Reactive/Proactive in Clinic-Referred Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 26(1):10-8. doi: 10.1089/cap.2015.0098.
Lainhart JE. (2015) Brain imaging research in autism spectrum disorders: in search of neuropathology and health across the lifespan. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 28(2):76-82. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000130.
Jantz PB, Bigler ED, Froehlich AL, Prigge MB, Cariello AN, Travers BG, Anderson J, Zielinski BA, Alexander AL, Lange N, Lainhart JE. (2015) Wide range achievement test in autism spectrum disorder: test-retest stability. Psychological Reports, 116(3):674-84.
Travers BG, Bigler ED, Tromp do PM, Adluru N, Destiche D, Samsin D, Froehlich A, Prigge MD, Duffield TC, Lange N, Alexander AL, Lainhart JE. (2015). Brainstem White Matter Predicts Individual Differences in Manual Motor Difficulties and Symptom Severity in Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(9):3030-40.
Travers BG, Tromp do PM, Adluru N, Lange N, Destiche D, Ennis C, Nielsen JA, Froehlich AL, Prigge MB, Fletcher PT, Anderson JS, Zielinski BA, Bigler ED, Lainhart JE, Alexander AL. (2015). Atypical development of white matter microstructure of the corpus callosum in males with autism: a longitudinal investigation. Molecular Autism, 11;6:15.
Trontel HG, Duffield TC, Bigler ED, Abildskov TJ, Froehlich A, Prigge MB, Travers BG, Anderson JS, Zielinski BA, Alexander AL, Lange N, Lainhart JE. (2015). Mesial temporal lobe and memory function in autism spectrum disorder: an exploration of volumetric findings. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 37(2):178-92.
Lange N, Travers BG, Bigler ED, Prigge MB, Froehlich AL, Nielsen JA, Cariello AN, Zielinski BA, Anderson JS, Fletcher PT, Alexander AA, Lainhart JE. (2015). Longitudinal volumetric brain changes in autism spectrum disorder ages 6-35 years. Autism Research, 8(1):82-93
Nielsen JA, Zielinski BA, Fletcher PT, Alexander AL, Lange N, Bigler ED, Lainhart JE, Anderson JS. (2014) Abnormal lateralization of functional connectivity between language and default mode regions in autism. Molecular Autism. 6;5(1):8. doi: 10.1186/2040-2392-5-8.
Travers BG, Bigler ED, Tromp DPM, Adluru N, Froehlich AL, Ennis C, Lange N, Nielsen JA, Prigge MB, Alexander AL, Lainhart JE. (2014) Longitudinal processing speed impairments in males with autism and the effects of white matter microstructureLongitudinal processing speed impairments in males with autism and the effects of white matter microstructure. Neuropsychologia. Neuropsychologia, 53, 137-145.
Zielinski BA, Prigge MB, Nielsen JA, Froehlich AL, Abildskov TJ, Anderson JS, Fletcher PT, Zygmunt KM, Travers BG, Lange N, Alexander AL, Bigler ED, Lainhart JE. (2014) Longitudinal changes in cortical thickness in autism and typical development. Brain. 137(Pt 6):1799-812.
Trontel HG, Duffield TC, Bigler ED, Froehlich A, Prigge MB, Nielsen JA, Cooperrider JR, Cariello AN, Travers BG, Anderson JS, Zielinski BA, Alexander A, Lange N, Lainhart JE. (2013) Fusiform correlates of facial memory in autism. Behavioral Sciences. 3(3):348-71. doi: 10.3390/bs3030348.
Nielsen JA, Zielinski BA, Fletcher PT, Alexander AL, Lange N, Bigler ED, Lainhart JE, Anderson JS. (2013) Multisite functional connectivity MRI classification of autism: ABIDE results. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 25;7:599. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00599.
Adluru N, Hanlon BM, Lutz A, Lainhart JE, Alexander AL, Davidson RJ. (2013) Penalized Likelihood Phenotyping: Unifying Voxelwise Analyses and Multi-Voxel Pattern Analyses in Neuroimaging. Neuroinformatics. 11(2):227-47.
Prigge MB, Lange N, Bigler ED, Merkley TL, Neeley ES, Abildskov TJ, Froehlich AL, Nielsen JA, Cooperrider JR, Cariello AN, Ravichandran C, Alexander AL, Lainhart JE. (2013) Corpus Callosum Area in Children and Adults with Autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 7(2):221-234.
Mazefsky CA, Oswald DP, Day TN, Eack SM, Minshew NJ, Lainhart JE. (2012) ASD, a psychiatric disorder, or both? Psychiatric diagnoses in adolescents with high-functioning ASD. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. 41(4):516-23.
Froehlich AL, Anderson JS, Bigler ED, Miller JS, Lange NT, Dubray MB, Cooperrider JR, Cariello A, Nielsen JA, Lainhart JE. (2012) Intact Prototype Formation but Impaired Generalization in Autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Spring;6(2):921-930.
Travers BG, Adluru N, Ennis C, Tromp do PM, Destiche D, Doran S, Bigler ED, Lange N, Lainhart JE, Alexander AL. (2012) Diffusion tensor imaging in autism spectrum disorder: a review. Autism Research. 5(5):289-313.
Zielinski BA, Anderson JS, Froehlich AL, Prigge MB, Nielsen JA, Cooperrider JR, Cariello AN, Fletcher PT, Alexander AL, Lange N, Bigler ED, Lainhart JE. (2012) scMRI reveals large-scale brain network abnormalities in autism. PLoS One. 7(11):e49172.
Lainhart JE, Lange N. (2011) Increased neuron number and head size in autism. JAMA. Nov 9;306(18):2031-2.
Southwick JS, Bigler ED, Froehlich A, Dubray MB, Alexander AL, Lange N, Lainhart JE. (2011) Memory functioning in children and adolescents with autism. Neuropsychology. 25(6):702-10.
Anderson JS, Druzgal TJ, Froehlich A, DuBray MB, Lange N, Alexander AL, Abildskov T, Nielsen JA, Cariello AN, Cooperrider JR, Bigler ED, Lainhart JE. (2011) Decreased interhemispheric functional connectivity in autism. Cerebral Cortex. May;21(5):1134-46.
Anderson JS, Nielsen JA, Froehlich AL, DuBray MB, Druzgal TJ, Cariello AN, Cooperrider JR, Zielinski BA, Ravichandran C, Fletcher PT, Alexander AL, Bigler ED, Lange N, Lainhart JE. (2011) Functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging classification of autism. Brain. 134(Pt 12):3742-54.
Lange N, Dubray MB, Lee JE, Froimowitz MP, Froehlich A, Adluru N, Wright B, Ravichandran C, Fletcher PT, Bigler ED, Alexander AL, Lainhart JE. (2010) Atypical diffusion tensor hemispheric asymmetry in autism. Autism Research. 3(6):350-8.
Lee JE, Chung MK, Lazar M, DuBray MB, Kim J, Bigler ED, Lainhart JE, Alexander AL. (2009) A study of diffusion tensor imaging by tissue-specific, smoothing-compensated voxel-based analysis. Neuroimage. 1;44(3):870-83.