Early Life Adversity and Cognitive Health in Later Life
Author Information
Author(s): Monica Walters, Roger Wong, Kiana Scambray, Toni Antonucci, Wassim Tarraf
Primary Institution: University of Michigan
Hypothesis
How do early life adversity experiences relate to cognition and can life course relationship quality buffer these effects?
Conclusion
Early life adversity negatively impacts cognition, but the effects can be mitigated by the quality of relationships later in life.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants with Family Disruptions had worse cognition compared to those with Low Adversity.
- Racially/ethnically minoritized adults were more likely to belong to Family Disruptions and Weak Ties classes.
- Weak Ties were associated with worse cognition and higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.
Takeaway
If kids have tough times growing up, it can make it harder for them to think when they get older, but having good friends and family can help.
Methodology
Latent class and profile analyses were used to identify subgroups of early life adversity and life course relationship quality, and their associations with cognition were assessed using regression analyses.
Potential Biases
Racial and ethnic disparities in adversity and relationship quality may introduce bias in the findings.
Limitations
The study may not account for all potential confounding variables affecting cognition.
Participant Demographics
Adults aged 50-64, with a notable representation of racially/ethnically minoritized individuals.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI[-1.25;-0.43]
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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