1
|
Debowska A, Inglot G, Piasek R, Sokol G, Horeczy B, Hales GK, Boduszek D. Testing the Spillover Effect of Intimate Partner Violence Victimization on Emotionally Abusive and Harsh Parenting Practices: The Application of Propensity Score Matching. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2024:8862605241258998. [PMID: 38907662 DOI: 10.1177/08862605241258998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Prior research reported a significant association between intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and negative parenting, but there was an overreliance on U.S. samples and families from low socioeconomic status backgrounds. Therefore, this quasi-experimental study examined the association between recent IPV victimization and abusive parenting practices in a sample of community-based women from Poland. Participants were mothers of children aged 2 to 5 years (N = 610) attending an outpatient clinic located in a city in south-eastern Poland. Mothers were asked about their IPV experiences in the past 12 months and were classed as either IPV positive or IPV negative. Outcome measures assessed emotionally abusive and harsh parenting practices. All data were collected online. To reduce bias in background characteristics (i.e., age, education, employment status, financial distress, self-esteem, childhood violence history, alcohol problems, current mental distress, social support, exposure to COVID-19-pandemic-related stressors, and child sex), we applied the propensity score matching (PSM) technique. Group differences before and after matching were examined using independent samples t-tests. Prematching analyses revealed that IPV-positive mothers used significantly more emotionally abusive and harsh parenting practices than IPV-negative mothers. However, the two samples differed substantially on six background characteristics which are known risk factors for IPV and child maltreatment (financial distress, self-esteem, childhood violence history, current mental distress, social support, and exposure to COVID-19-pandemic-related stressors). PSM was successful in reducing those imbalances. Postmatching group comparisons were statistically nonsignificant for emotionally abusive and harsh parenting, disproving the spillover hypothesis. We conclude that IPV victimization is not related to emotionally abusive and harsh parenting practices when controlling for confounding variables.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rafal Piasek
- Specialized Hospital Pro-Familia, Rzeszow, Poland
| | | | - Beata Horeczy
- Specialized Hospital Pro-Familia, Rzeszow, Poland
- Current affiliation: Medical College, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland
| | | | - Daniel Boduszek
- SWPS University, Wroclaw, Poland
- University of Huddersfield, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Francesconi M, Minichino A, Flouri E. The role of mild stressors in children's cognition and inflammation: positive and negative impacts depend on timing of exposure. Eur Psychiatry 2023; 66:e95. [PMID: 37881843 PMCID: PMC10755563 DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the impact of stressful life events (SLEs) on mental health is well-established, the research on the impact of such stressors on cognitive outcomes has produced mixed results. Arguably, the timing and severity of exposure may play a key role. In this study, we shed light on the relationship between timing of exposure to relatively minor SLEs and cognitive ability in children, while taking into account the role of a plausible biological mediator: inflammation. Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a general population birth cohort, we explored the role of relatively minor SLEs, experienced during two crucial developmental stages: up to transition to school (1-4.5 years) and up to transition to puberty (5.5-8.5 years). We then tested if they may impact differently on inflammatory markers (serum C-reactive protein [CRP] and interleukin 6 [IL-6]) at age 9 and general intelligence, measured with the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence at age 15. Data (n = 4,525) were analyzed using path analysis while controlling for covariates. We found that when relatively minor stressful events were experienced up to transition to school they were significantly associated with higher IQ at age 15, whereas when experienced up to transition to puberty they were significantly associated with higher levels of IL-6 at age 9. Results were robust to adjustment for relevant covariates, including IQ at age 8. Mild stressors in childhood may result in positive (i.e., improved cognition) or negative (i.e., inflammation) outcomes depending on the timing of exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Francesconi
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Eirini Flouri
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhuo C, Tian H, Song X, Jiang D, Chen G, Cai Z, Ping J, Cheng L, Zhou C, Chen C. Microglia and cognitive impairment in schizophrenia: translating scientific progress into novel therapeutic interventions. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 9:42. [PMID: 37429882 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-023-00370-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is a core clinical feature of schizophrenia, exerting profound adverse effects on social functioning and quality of life in a large proportion of patients with schizophrenia. However, the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of schizophrenia-related cognitive impairment are not well understood. Microglia, the primary resident macrophages in the brain, have been shown to play important roles in psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Increasing evidence has revealed excessive microglial activation in cognitive deficits related to a broad range of diseases and medical conditions. Relative to that about age-related cognitive deficits, current knowledge about the roles of microglia in cognitive impairment in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, is limited, and such research is in its infancy. Thus, we conducted this review of the scientific literature with a focus on the role of microglia in schizophrenia-associated cognitive impairment, aiming to gain insight into the roles of microglial activation in the onset and progression of such impairment and to consider how scientific advances could be translated to preventive and therapeutic interventions. Research has demonstrated that microglia, especially those in the gray matter of the brain, are activated in schizophrenia. Upon activation, microglia release key proinflammatory cytokines and free radicals, which are well-recognized neurotoxic factors contributing to cognitive decline. Thus, we propose that the inhibition of microglial activation holds potential for the prevention and treatment of cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia. This review identifies potential targets for the development of new treatment strategies and eventually the improvement of care for these patients. It might also help psychologists and clinical investigators in planning future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuanjun Zhuo
- Key Laboratory of Sensory Information Processing Abnormalities in Schizophrenia (SIPAS-Lab), Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Medical University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China.
- Laboratory of Psychiatric-Neuroimaging-Genetic and Co-morbidity (PNGC-Lab), Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Anding Hospital, 300222, Tianjin, China.
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China.
| | - Hongjun Tian
- Key Laboratory of Sensory Information Processing Abnormalities in Schizophrenia (SIPAS-Lab), Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Medical University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xueqin Song
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Psychiatric Transformation Research Key Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Deguo Jiang
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Guangdong Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ziyao Cai
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jing Ping
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Langlang Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chunhua Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
| | - Chunmian Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Wenzhou Seventh peoples Hospital, Wenzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Savopoulos P, Bryant C, Fogarty A, Conway LJ, Fitzpatrick KM, Condron P, Giallo R. Intimate Partner Violence and Child and Adolescent Cognitive Development: A Systematic Review. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2023; 24:1882-1907. [PMID: 35666939 DOI: 10.1177/15248380221082081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health and human rights issue, with millions of children affected worldwide. While several reviews have explored the emotional-behavioural functioning of children exposed to IPV, this review aimed to examine the relationship between children's exposure to IPV and their cognitive development, and to identify associated factors such as aspects of parenting. The databases MEDLINE, PsycInfo, EMBASE, Family and Society Studies Worldwide, CINAHL, and ERIC were searched using key words related to IPV, such as domestic, family, partner, interparental, spousal, marital, violence, abuse, aggression, assault, combined with key words related to cognitive functioning, such as neuropsychological, executive, intelligence, learning, memory, and key words related to children and adolescents. A total of 38 studies met the criteria for review which included reporting an estimate of the relationship between IPV and cognition using direct assessments of cognitive functioning. Approximately 70% of studies found a relationship between IPV and poorer cognitive functioning, with general IQ the most frequently assessed domain of functioning, followed by verbal abilities and academic skills. Most studies assessed skills during early childhood, with fewer studies assessing children during middle childhood and adolescence. Results were consistent across cognitive domains and developmental stages. In terms of factors associated with IPV and cognition, a range of demographic, individual, and family factors were included, with several studies exploring mediating and moderating mechanisms. The findings suggest that IPV in childhood is associated with poorer cognitive skills across a range of domains. Implications for policy, practice and research are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla Savopoulos
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Christina Bryant
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Alison Fogarty
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Laura J Conway
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Patrick Condron
- University Library, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Rebecca Giallo
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Barczyk ZA, Foulds JA, Porter RJ, Douglas KM. Childhood trauma and cognitive functioning in mood disorders: A systematic review. Bipolar Disord 2023; 25:263-277. [PMID: 36949602 DOI: 10.1111/bdi.13321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment is a core feature of mood disorders and has been identified as an important treatment target. A better understanding of the factors contributing to cognitive impairment in mood disorders would be beneficial in developing interventions to address cognitive impairment. One key factor is childhood trauma. The aim of this review was to systematically synthesise and review research examining associations between reported childhood trauma and cognitive functioning in mood disorders. METHODS Studies in adult samples examining the relationship between objective cognitive function and reported childhood trauma in major depressive disorder and/or bipolar disorder (in-episode or euthymia) were identified. Searches were conducted on PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO until January 2022. A narrative review technique was used due to the heterogeneity of group comparisons, cognitive tests and data analysis across studies. RESULTS Seventeen studies met the criteria for inclusion (mood disorders N = 1723, healthy controls N = 797). Evidence for childhood trauma being related to poorer cognitive functioning was consistent across global cognitive functioning and executive function domains for euthymic patients and psychomotor speed for in-episode patients. There was mixed evidence for verbal learning and memory and executive function for in-episode patients. Identification of patterns within other domains was difficult due to limited number of studies. CONCLUSION Findings from this review suggest childhood trauma is associated with poorer cognitive functioning in people with mood disorders. Targeted interventions to improve cognition may be warranted for this group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zoe A Barczyk
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, 8011, New Zealand
| | - James A Foulds
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Richard J Porter
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, 8011, New Zealand
- Specialist Mental Health Services, Canterbury District Health Board, Christchurch, 8024, New Zealand
| | - Katie M Douglas
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, 8011, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Huang Z, Jordan JD, Zhang Q. Early life adversity as a risk factor for cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Transl Neurodegener 2023; 12:25. [PMID: 37173751 PMCID: PMC10182702 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-023-00355-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurological conditions, including cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD), impose a huge burden on society, affecting millions of people globally. In addition to genetic factors, recent studies indicate that environmental and experiential factors may contribute to the pathogenesis of these diseases. Early life adversity (ELA) has a profound impact on brain function and health later in life. In rodent models, exposure to ELA results in specific cognitive deficits and aggravated AD pathology. Extensive concerns have been raised regarding the higher risk of developing cognitive impairments in people with a history of ELA. In this review, we scrutinize findings from human and animal studies focusing on the connection of ELA with cognitive impairment and AD. These discoveries suggest that ELA, especially at early postnatal stages, increases susceptibility to cognitive impairment and AD later in life. In terms of mechanisms, ELA could lead to dysregulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, altered gut microbiome, persistent inflammation, oligodendrocyte dysfunction, hypomyelination, and aberrant adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Crosstalks among these events may synergistically contribute to cognitive impairment later in life. Additionally, we discuss several interventions that may alleviate adverse consequences of ELA. Further investigation into this crucial area will help improve ELA management and reduce the burden of related neurological conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhihai Huang
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA
| | - J Dedrick Jordan
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
| | - Quanguang Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ji D, Francesconi M, Flouri E, Papachristou E. The role of inflammatory markers and cortisol in the association between early social cognition abilities and later internalising or externalising problems: Evidence from a UK birth cohort. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 105:225-236. [PMID: 35835432 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Deficits in social cognition are associated with internalising (emotional and peer problems) and externalising (conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention) symptoms in youth. It has been suggested that stress may be one of the mechanisms underlying these associations. However, no empirical studies have investigated if physiological stress can explain the prospective associations between social cognition deficits and internalising and externalising symptoms in the general youth population. This study addressed this question and focused on two indicators of physiological stress, dysregulated diurnal cortisol patterns and systemic inflammation. METHOD Participants were 714 individuals from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a UK population-based birth cohort. Bayesian structural equation modelling was used to investigate a) the associations of social cognition abilities at ages 8, 11, and 14 years with internalising and externalising problems at age 17 years and b) the potential mediating effects of cortisol parameters at age 15 years and inflammatory markers [interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP)] at ages 9 and 16 years. RESULTS We found that social cognition difficulties were associated with later internalising and externalising problems. Flattened diurnal cortisol slope was associated with hyperactivity/inattention problems two years later. Lower morning cortisol partially mediated the direct association between social communication deficits at 8 years and hyperactivity/inattention and conduct problems at 17 years, even after adjustments for inflammation and confounders (for hyperactivity/inattention: indirect effect = 0.07, 95% CI [0.00, 0.18], p = .042; for conduct problems: indirect effect = 0.04, 95% CI [0.00, 0.11], p = .040). We did not find a significant association between systemic inflammation and social cognition difficulties, internalising problems, or externalising problems. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that part of the effect of social communication difficulties in childhood on externalising problems in adolescence was mediated by lower morning cortisol. Hence, our study indicates that the hypoactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may be one of the physiological mechanisms linking some social cognition deficits to externalising problems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongying Ji
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, 25 Woburn Square, London WC1H 0AA, UK.
| | - Marta Francesconi
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, 25 Woburn Square, London WC1H 0AA, UK.
| | - Eirini Flouri
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, 25 Woburn Square, London WC1H 0AA, UK.
| | - Efstathios Papachristou
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, 25 Woburn Square, London WC1H 0AA, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Mukherjee D, Bhopal S, Bhavnani S, Sharma KK, Roy R, Divan G, Mandal S, Soremekun S, Kirkwood B, Patel V. The effect of cumulative early life adversities, and their differential mediation through hair cortisol levels, on childhood growth and cognition: Three-year follow-up of a birth cohort in rural India. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 7:74. [PMID: 35592545 PMCID: PMC9096148 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17712.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Early adversities negatively impact children's growth and development, putatively mediated by chronic physiological stress resulting from these adverse experiences. We aimed to estimate the associations between prospectively measured cumulative early adversities with growth and cognition outcomes in rural Indian preschool children and to explore if hair cortisol concentration (HCC), a measure of chronic physiological stress, mediated the above association. Methods: Participants were recruited from the SPRING cRCT in rural Haryana, India. Adversities experienced through pregnancy and the first year of life were measured in 1304 children at 12-months. HCC was measured at 12-months in 845 of them. Outcome measures were height-for-age-z-score (HAZ), weight-for-age-z-score (WAZ) and cognition, measured in 1124 children followed up at 3-years. Cognition was measured using a validated tablet-based gamified tool named DEEP. Results: Cumulative adversities at 12-months were inversely associated with all outcomes measures at 3-years. Each unit increase in adversity score led to a decrease of 0·08 units [95% confidence interval (CI):-0·11,-0·06] in DEEP-z-score; 0·12 units [-0·14,-0·09] in HAZ and 0·11 units [-0·13,-0·09] in WAZ. 12-month HCC was inversely associated with DEEP-z-score (-0·09 [-0·16,-0·01]) and HAZ (-0·12 [-0·20,-0·04]), but the association with WAZ was not significant (p = 0·142). HCC marginally mediated the association between cumulative adversities and HAZ (proportion mediated = 0·06, p = 0·014). No evidence of mediation was found for the cognition outcome. Conclusions: Cumulative early adversities and HCC measured at 12-months have persistent negative effects on child growth and cognition at 3-years. The association between adversities and these two child outcomes were differentially mediated by HCC, with no evidence of mediation observed for the cognitive outcome. Future studies should focus on other stress biomarkers, and alternate pathways such as the immune, inflammation and cellular ageing pathways, to unpack key mechanisms underlying the established relationship between early adversities and poor child outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Debarati Mukherjee
- Life course Epidemiology, Indian Institute of Public Health-Bengaluru, Public Health Foundation of India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560023, India
| | - Sunil Bhopal
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK
- Maternal & Child Health Intervention Research Group, Department of Population Health, Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Supriya Bhavnani
- Child Development Group, Sangath, 451 Bhatkar Waddo, Succor, Bardez, Goa, 403501, India
| | - Kamal Kant Sharma
- Child Development Group, Sangath, 451 Bhatkar Waddo, Succor, Bardez, Goa, 403501, India
| | - Reetabrata Roy
- Maternal & Child Health Intervention Research Group, Department of Population Health, Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
- Child Development Group, Sangath, 451 Bhatkar Waddo, Succor, Bardez, Goa, 403501, India
| | - Gauri Divan
- Child Development Group, Sangath, 451 Bhatkar Waddo, Succor, Bardez, Goa, 403501, India
| | - Siddhartha Mandal
- Center for Chronic Disease Control, C-1/52, 2ND FL, Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Seyi Soremekun
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Disease, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Betty Kirkwood
- Maternal & Child Health Intervention Research Group, Department of Population Health, Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Vikram Patel
- Child Development Group, Sangath, 451 Bhatkar Waddo, Succor, Bardez, Goa, 403501, India
- Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 41 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Mukherjee D, Bhopal S, Bhavnani S, Sharma KK, Roy R, Divan G, Mandal S, Soremekun S, Kirkwood B, Patel V. The effect of cumulative early life adversities, and their differential mediation through hair cortisol levels, on childhood growth and cognition: Three-year follow-up of a birth cohort in rural India. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 7:74. [PMID: 35592545 PMCID: PMC9096148 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17712.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Early adversities negatively impact children’s growth and development, putatively mediated by chronic physiological stress resulting from these adverse experiences. We aimed to estimate the associations between prospectively measured cumulative early adversities with growth and cognition outcomes in rural Indian preschool children and to explore if hair cortisol concentration (HCC), a measure of chronic physiological stress, mediated the above association. Methods: Participants were recruited from the SPRING cRCT in rural Haryana, India. Adversities experienced through pregnancy and the first year of life were measured in 1304 children at 12-months. HCC was measured at 12-months in 845 of them. Outcome measures were height-for-age-z-score (HAZ), weight-for-age-z-score (WAZ) and cognition, measured in 1124 children followed up at 3-years. Cognition was measured using a validated tablet-based gamified tool named DEEP. Results: Cumulative adversities at 12-months were inversely associated with all outcomes measures at 3-years. Each unit increase in adversity score led to a decrease of 0·08 units [95% confidence interval (CI):-0·11,-0·06] in DEEP-z-score; 0·12 units [-0·14,-0·09] in HAZ and 0·11 units [-0·13,-0·09] in WAZ. 12-month HCC was inversely associated with DEEP-z-score (-0·09 [-0·16,-0·01]) and HAZ (-0·12 [-0·20,-0·04]), but the association with WAZ was not significant (p = 0·142). HCC marginally mediated the association between cumulative adversities and HAZ (proportion mediated = 0·06, p = 0·014). No evidence of mediation was found for the cognition outcome. Conclusions: Cumulative early adversities and HCC measured at 12-months have persistent negative effects on child growth and cognition at 3-years. The association between adversities and these two child outcomes were differentially mediated by HCC, with no evidence of mediation observed for the cognitive outcome. Future studies should focus on other stress biomarkers, and alternate pathways such as the immune, inflammation and cellular ageing pathways, to unpack key mechanisms underlying the established relationship between early adversities and poor child outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Debarati Mukherjee
- Life course Epidemiology, Indian Institute of Public Health-Bengaluru, Public Health Foundation of India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560023, India
| | - Sunil Bhopal
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK
- Maternal & Child Health Intervention Research Group, Department of Population Health, Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Supriya Bhavnani
- Child Development Group, Sangath, 451 Bhatkar Waddo, Succor, Bardez, Goa, 403501, India
| | - Kamal Kant Sharma
- Child Development Group, Sangath, 451 Bhatkar Waddo, Succor, Bardez, Goa, 403501, India
| | - Reetabrata Roy
- Maternal & Child Health Intervention Research Group, Department of Population Health, Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
- Child Development Group, Sangath, 451 Bhatkar Waddo, Succor, Bardez, Goa, 403501, India
| | - Gauri Divan
- Child Development Group, Sangath, 451 Bhatkar Waddo, Succor, Bardez, Goa, 403501, India
| | - Siddhartha Mandal
- Center for Chronic Disease Control, C-1/52, 2ND FL, Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Seyi Soremekun
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Disease, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Betty Kirkwood
- Maternal & Child Health Intervention Research Group, Department of Population Health, Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Vikram Patel
- Child Development Group, Sangath, 451 Bhatkar Waddo, Succor, Bardez, Goa, 403501, India
- Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 41 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
de Rooij SR. Are Brain and Cognitive Reserve Shaped by Early Life Circumstances? Front Neurosci 2022; 16:825811. [PMID: 35784851 PMCID: PMC9243389 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.825811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
When growing older, many people are faced with cognitive deterioration, which may even amount to a form of dementia at some point in time. Although neuropathological signs of dementia disorders can often be demonstrated in brains of patients, the degree to which clinical symptoms are present does mostly not accurately reflect the amount of neuropathology that is present. Sometimes existent pathology even goes without any obvious clinical presentation. An explanation for this phenomenon may be found in the concept of reserve capacity. Reserve capacity refers to the ability of the brain to effectively buffer changes that are associated with normal aging processes and to cope with pathological damage. A larger reserve capacity has been suggested to increase resilience against age-associated cognitive deterioration and dementia disorders. Traditionally, a division has been made between brain reserve, which is based on morphological characteristics of the brain, and cognitive reserve, which is based on functional characteristics of the brain. The present review discusses the premises that brain and cognitive reserve capacity are shaped by prenatal and early postnatal factors. Evidence is accumulating that circumstances during the first 1,000 days of life are of the utmost importance for the lifelong health of an individual. Cognitive deterioration and dementia disorders may also have their origin in early life and a potentially important pathway by which the early environment affects the risk for neurodegenerative diseases is by developmental programming of the reserve capacity of the brain. The basic idea behind developmental programming of brain and cognitive reserve is explained and an overview of studies that support this idea is presented. The review is concluded by a discussion of potential mechanisms, synthesis of the evidence and relevance and future directions in the field of developmental origins of reserve capacity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susanne R. de Rooij
- Epidemiology and Data Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Aging and Later Life, Health Behaviors and Chronic Diseases, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Charalambous EG, Mériaux SB, Guebels P, Muller CP, Leenen FAD, Elwenspoek MMC, Thiele I, Hertel J, Turner JD. Early-Life Adversity Leaves Its Imprint on the Oral Microbiome for More Than 20 Years and Is Associated with Long-Term Immune Changes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222312682. [PMID: 34884490 PMCID: PMC8657988 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The early-life microbiome (ELM) interacts with the psychosocial environment, in particular during early-life adversity (ELA), defining life-long health trajectories. The ELM also plays a significant role in the maturation of the immune system. We hypothesised that, in this context, the resilience of the oral microbiomes, despite being composed of diverse and distinct communities, allows them to retain an imprint of the early environment. Using 16S amplicon sequencing on the EpiPath cohort, we demonstrate that ELA leaves an imprint on both the salivary and buccal oral microbiome 24 years after exposure to adversity. Furthermore, the changes in both communities were associated with increased activation, maturation, and senescence of both innate and adaptive immune cells, although the interaction was partly dependent on prior herpesviridae exposure and current smoking. Our data suggest the presence of multiple links between ELA, Immunosenescence, and cytotoxicity that occur through long-term changes in the microbiome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleftheria G. Charalambous
- Immune Endocrine and Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), 29 Rue Henri Koch, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; (E.G.C.); (S.B.M.); (P.G.); (C.P.M.); (F.A.D.L.); (M.M.C.E.)
- Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 2 Avenue de Université, L-4365 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Sophie B. Mériaux
- Immune Endocrine and Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), 29 Rue Henri Koch, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; (E.G.C.); (S.B.M.); (P.G.); (C.P.M.); (F.A.D.L.); (M.M.C.E.)
| | - Pauline Guebels
- Immune Endocrine and Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), 29 Rue Henri Koch, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; (E.G.C.); (S.B.M.); (P.G.); (C.P.M.); (F.A.D.L.); (M.M.C.E.)
| | - Claude P. Muller
- Immune Endocrine and Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), 29 Rue Henri Koch, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; (E.G.C.); (S.B.M.); (P.G.); (C.P.M.); (F.A.D.L.); (M.M.C.E.)
| | - Fleur A. D. Leenen
- Immune Endocrine and Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), 29 Rue Henri Koch, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; (E.G.C.); (S.B.M.); (P.G.); (C.P.M.); (F.A.D.L.); (M.M.C.E.)
| | - Martha M. C. Elwenspoek
- Immune Endocrine and Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), 29 Rue Henri Koch, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; (E.G.C.); (S.B.M.); (P.G.); (C.P.M.); (F.A.D.L.); (M.M.C.E.)
| | - Ines Thiele
- School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, H91 YR71 Galway, Ireland; (I.T.); (J.H.)
- Ryan Institute, National University of Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
- Division of Microbiology, National University of Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, T12 HW58 Cork, Ireland
| | - Johannes Hertel
- School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, H91 YR71 Galway, Ireland; (I.T.); (J.H.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jonathan D. Turner
- Immune Endocrine and Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), 29 Rue Henri Koch, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; (E.G.C.); (S.B.M.); (P.G.); (C.P.M.); (F.A.D.L.); (M.M.C.E.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +352-26970-629
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Corley E, Holleran L, Fahey L, Corvin A, Morris DW, Donohoe G. Microglial-expressed genetic risk variants, cognitive function and brain volume in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:490. [PMID: 34556640 PMCID: PMC8460789 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01616-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in immune function are associated with variance in cognitive functioning in schizophrenia. Given that microglia are the primary innate immune cells in the brain, we examined whether schizophrenia risk-associated microglial genes (measured via polygenic score analysis) explained variation in cognition in patients with schizophrenia and controls (n = 1,238) and tested whether grey matter mediated this association. We further sought to replicate these associations in an independent sample of UK Biobank participants (n = 134,827). We then compared the strength of these microglial associations to that of neuronal and astroglial (i.e., other brain-expressed genes) polygenic scores, and used MAGMA to test for enrichment of these gene-sets with schizophrenia risk. Increased microglial schizophrenia polygenic risk was associated with significantly lower performance across several measures of cognitive functioning in both samples; associations which were then found to be mediated via total grey matter volume in the UK Biobank. Unlike neuronal genes which did show evidence of enrichment, the microglial gene-set was not significantly enriched for schizophrenia, suggesting that the relevance of microglia may be for neurodevelopmental processes related more generally to cognition. Further, the microglial polygenic score was associated with performance on a range of cognitive measures in a manner comparable to the neuronal schizophrenia polygenic score, with fewer cognitive associations observed for the astroglial score. In conclusion, our study supports the growing evidence of the importance of immune processes to understanding cognition and brain structure in both patients and in the healthy population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emma Corley
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
- Centre for Neuroimaging and Cognitive Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Laurena Holleran
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
- Centre for Neuroimaging and Cognitive Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Laura Fahey
- Centre for Neuroimaging and Cognitive Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Discipline of Biochemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Aiden Corvin
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Derek W Morris
- Centre for Neuroimaging and Cognitive Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Discipline of Biochemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Gary Donohoe
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
- Centre for Neuroimaging and Cognitive Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Dawidowski B, Górniak A, Podwalski P, Lebiecka Z, Misiak B, Samochowiec J. The Role of Cytokines in the Pathogenesis of Schizophrenia. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10173849. [PMID: 34501305 PMCID: PMC8432006 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10173849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness of unknown etiology. A growing and compelling body of evidence implicates immunologic dysfunction as the key element in its pathomechanism. Cytokines, whose altered levels have been increasingly reported in various patient populations, are the major mediators involved in the coordination of the immune system. The available literature reports both elevated levels of proinflammatory as well as reduced levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and their effects on clinical status and neuroimaging changes. There is evidence of at least a partial genetic basis for the association between cytokine alterations and schizophrenia. Two other factors implicated in its development include early childhood trauma and disturbances in the gut microbiome. Moreover, its various subtypes, characterized by individual symptom severity and course, such as deficit schizophrenia, seem to differ in terms of changes in peripheral cytokine levels. While the use of a systematic review methodology could be difficult due to the breadth and diversity of the issues covered in this review, the applied narrative approach allows for a more holistic presentation. The aim of this narrative review was to present up-to-date evidence on cytokine dysregulation in schizophrenia, its effect on the psychopathological presentation, and links with antipsychotic medication. We also attempted to summarize its postulated underpinnings, including early childhood trauma and gut microbiome disturbances, and propose trait and state markers of schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz Dawidowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland; (B.D.); (A.G.); (J.S.)
| | - Adrianna Górniak
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland; (B.D.); (A.G.); (J.S.)
| | - Piotr Podwalski
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland; (B.D.); (A.G.); (J.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-510-091-466
| | - Zofia Lebiecka
- Department of Health Psychology, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland;
| | - Błażej Misiak
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Consultation Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Jerzy Samochowiec
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland; (B.D.); (A.G.); (J.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Merz MP, Turner JD. Is early life adversity a trigger towards inflammageing? Exp Gerontol 2021; 150:111377. [PMID: 33905877 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
There are many 'faces' of early life adversity (ELA), such as childhood trauma, institutionalisation, abuse or exposure to environmental toxins. These have been implicated in the onset and severity of a wide range of chronic non-communicable diseases later in life. The later-life disease risk has a well-established immunological component. This raises the question as to whether accelerated immune-ageing mechanistically links early-life adversity to the lifelong health trajectory resulting in either 'poor' or 'healthy' ageing. Here we examine observational and mechanistic studies of ELA and inflammageing, highlighting common and distinct features in these two life stages. Many biological processes appear in common including reduction in telomere length, increased immunosenescence, metabolic distortions and chronic (viral) infections. We propose that ELA shapes the developing immune, endocrine and nervous system in a non-reversible way, creating a distinct phenotype with accelerated immunosenescence and systemic inflammation. We conclude that ELA might act as an accelerator for inflammageing and age-related diseases. Furthermore, we now have the tools and cohorts to be able to dissect the interaction between ELA and later life phenotype. This should, in the near future, allow us to identify the ecological and mechanistic processes that are involved in 'healthy' or accelerated immune-ageing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Myriam P Merz
- Immune Endocrine and Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), 29 rue Henri Koch, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 2 avenue de Université, L-4365 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Jonathan D Turner
- Immune Endocrine and Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), 29 rue Henri Koch, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
| |
Collapse
|