Adverse childhood events and cognitive function among young adults: Prospective results from the national longitudinal study of adolescent to adult health

Trauma's distinctive and combined effects on subsequent substance use, mental health, and neurocognitive functioning with the NCANDA sample

PURPOSE

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and potentially traumatic events (PTEs) contribute to increased substance use, mental health issues, and cognitive impairments. However, there's not enough research on how TBI and PTEs combined impact mental heath, substance use, and neurocognition.

METHODS

This study leverages a subset of The National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA) multi-site dataset with 551 adolescents to assess the combined and distinctive impacts of TBI, PTEs, and TBI+PTEs (prior to age 18) on substance use, mental health, and neurocognitive outcomes at age 18.

RESULTS

TBI, PTEs, and TBI+PTEs predicted greater lifetime substance use and past-year alcohol and cannabis use. PTEs predicted greater internalizing symptoms, while TBI+PTEs predicted greater externalizing symptoms. Varying effects on neurocognitive outcomes included PTEs influencing attention accuracy and TBI+PTEs predicting faster speed in emotion tasks. PTEs predicted greater accuracy in abstraction-related tasks. Associations with working memory were not detected.

CONCLUSION

This exploratory study contributes to the growing literature on the complex interplay between TBI, PTEs, and adolescent mental health, substance use, and neurocognition. The developmental implications of trauma via TBIs and/or PTEs during adolescence are considerable and worthy of further investigation.

The association between perinatal depressive symptoms and child neurodevelopment

BACKGROUND

Perinatal depression has been suggested to adversely impact child neurodevelopment. However, the complexity of the early childhood environment challenges conclusive findings.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether there is an association between perinatal depressive symptoms and child intelligence quotient (IQ) at 5 years of age.

STUDY DESIGN

Secondary analysis of an ancillary study to a multicenter randomized trial of thyroxine therapy for pregnant individuals with subclinical hypothyroidism. Dyads of infants and birthing parent, with completed Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) screens during pregnancy and postpartum and child neurodevelopment testing completed at five years of age (n=209) were included. CES-D screening was performed at 11-20 weeks, 34-38 weeks, and one-year postpartum. Depressive symptoms were categorized as antenatal (i.e., a positive screen at any point during pregnancy) or postpartum. The primary outcome was child IQ score < 85 at 5 years of age using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence III (WPPSI-III) Full Scale test. Secondary outcomes included other assessments of childhood neurodevelopment. Bivariable analyses and multivariable logistic regressions were utilized.

RESULTS

Of the 209 birthing people included, 72 (34%) screened positive for depression during pregnancy and 32 (15%) screened positive one year postpartum. Children born to individuals with a positive antenatal depression screen had a higher odds of IQ <85 at 5 years of age compared with children born to individuals with a CES-D <16 (35% vs. 18 %, OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.7). Similar findings were seen for children born to individuals with a positive postpartum depression screen (47% vs. 21%, OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.5-7.3). These associations did not persist in multivariable analyses that controlled for social determinants of health and clinical characteristics (adjusted odd ratio (aOR) 1.4, 95% CI 0.7-3.1; aOR 2.1, 95% CI 0.9-5.1, for antenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms, respectively). Similar findings were observed for other adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Having a positive perinatal depression screen was not associated with child cognitive outcomes after controlling for covariates including social determinants of health.

Longitudinal association of adverse childhood experiences with cognitive function trajectories among middle-aged and older adults: group-based trajectory modeling

Introduction

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact cognitive function, but the relationship remains unclear. We aim to identify cognitive function trajectories and scrutinize the correlation between ACEs and cognitive function.

Methods

To identify cognitive trajectories, we employed a group-based trajectory model, and influential factors were determined using multinomial unordered logistic regression analysis.

Results

Three cognitive decline subgroups emerged: low-start decline, high-start stability, and mid-start decline. There is no dose-response relationship between cumulative adverse childhood experiences and cognitive function. The high-start stability group had specific residence and education traits, while sibling death affected them. The mid-start decline group was vulnerable to parental death, physical abuse, and domestic violence. The low-start decline group should consider age structure and childhood friendships.

Conclusions

No dose-response association between cumulative ACEs and cognitive decline. Still, specific ACE metrics are correlated with cognitive trajectories. We can incorporate patients' ACEs into cognitive function assessments for early risk factor identification and tailored interventions. Moreover, recognizing the influence of early-life experiences on cognitive function, we can advocate for nurturing positive family and societal environments to optimize cognitive function.

Associations and Mediating Pathways Between Childhood Adversity and Risk of Dementia: A Cohort Study in the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

While childhood adversity (CA) is known to be associated with multiple adverse outcomes, its link with dementia is an area with limited exploration and inconsistent agreement. The study aimed to examine the longitudinal associations of CA with incident all-cause dementia and to quantify the potential mediating pathways.

METHODS

Data from the UK Biobank. CA, encompassing neglect and abuse, was evaluated retrospectively by an online mental health questionnaire. Physical performance, psychological factors, lifestyles, and biological indicators assessed at baseline were considered potential mediators. Incident all-cause dementia was defined by International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes obtained through self-reported medical conditions, primary care, hospital admission, and death registrations. Cox proportional hazard models were applied to estimate the longitudinal associations. Mediation analyses were conducted on potential mediators to examine their contribution.

RESULTS

This cohort study comprised 150 152 nondemented individuals (mean [SD] age, 55.9 [7.7] years) at baseline (2006-2010). Compared to individuals who did not experience CA, those exposed to any CA exhibited a 30.0% higher risk of dementia (hazard ratio = 1.300, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.129-1.496). Each additional CA was associated with a 15.5% (95% CI: 8.8%-22.5%, pfor trend < .001) increased dementia risks. Depression, smoking, and low grip strength explained 8.7%, 2.4%, and 0.9% of the associations, respectively. Biomarkers involving inflammation, erythrocytes, liver, and kidney function mediated the associations by 0.6%-1.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

The study revealed the detrimental effects of CA on dementia and identified some potential mediators, namely depression, smoking, low grip strength, and several targeted biomarkers. In addition to calling more attention to CA, the findings underscore the importance of interventions targeting modifiable mediators in preventing dementia.

Association Between E-Cigarettes, Cognition and Mood in Adolescents

OBJECTIVE

Research has indicated potentially neutral or even positive cognitive effects of e-cigarette usage in adults, but whether these findings extend to adolescents remains uncertain. This study aimed to examine the interplay between e-cigarette use, mind wandering and self-efficacy, and mood.

METHOD

The responses of 432 adolescents aged 11-18 years from an online survey were analyzed. Among them, 88 adolescents had used e-cigarettes.

RESULTS

Adolescents who have used e-cigarettes reported poorer academic self-efficacy, t (430) = 3.26, 95% CI [1.12, 4.51], p < 0.001; greater mind-wandering tendencies t(430) = -3.38, 95% CI [-4.14, -1.10], p < 0.001; and greater severity of depression, t(430) = -3.38, p < 0.001, anxiety t(430) = -2.67, p = 0.01, and stress t(430) = -3.32, p < .001. Increased frequency of e-cigarette use was also associated with attitudes toward e-cigarette use, r (86) = 0.31, p = 0.003 and lower academic self-efficacy, r (86) = -0.27, p = .010. However, there was no significant correlation between frequency of use and mind-wandering. Further network analysis suggested negative relationships between frequency of e-cigarette use, academic self-efficacy and mind-wandering.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest a potential adverse impact of e-cigarette use on mind-wandering and academic confidence among adolescents. However, the direct or indirect relationship between e-cigarette use and these effects could not be definitively determined due to the cross-sectional survey design employed in our study. Nonetheless, our findings underscore the importance of considering developmental differences and the unique vulnerabilities of adolescents when assessing the impact of e-cigarette use.

Adverse childhood experiences and cognitive function in later life: the sequential mediating roles of education level and adult loneliness

Background

This study assesses the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on the cognitive function of older adults. Furthermore, it examines the potential underlying mechanism involving education level and the subjective "feeling of loneliness" (FOL).

Methods

Analyzing a population-based cohort sample from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study database, 8,365 subjects aged 45 or older were interviewed in 2018. Ten ACEs indicators were measured using life history questionnaires assessed at 2014. FOL was assessed using a single item from 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10). Cognitive function was assessed using a structured questionnaire comprising four dimensions: memory, orientation, computation, and visuospatial abilities.

Results

In the fully adjusted model, which accounted for age, gender, marital status, smoke, drink, rural residence, and education levels of both mothers and fathers, the linear regression analysis indicated that ACEs were inversely associated the lower education level (B = -0.058, 95% CI = -0.090, -0.026, p < 0.001), and ACEs were found to be linked to an elevated risk of FOL (B = 0.072, 95% CI = 0.056, 0.089, p < 0.001). In addition, ACEs was not significantly associated with cognitive function (B = -0.047, 95% CI = -0.108, 0.015, p = 0.136), but FOL was significantly associated with cognitive function (B = -0.483, 95% CI = -0.561, -0.404, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis revealed that education level and FOL sequentially and partially mediated the association between ACEs and the total cognitive score, with a proportion mediated of 52.58%.

Limitations

The evaluation of ACEs exposure was based on binary response options. This method limited our ability to explore various dimensions of adversity, such as ages of occurrence, severity, frequency, duration, and the extent of psychological effects at the time. Furthermore, the assessment of loneliness relied on a single item from the CESD-10, introducing a potential source of measurement error.

Conclusion

Our study unveils a substantial association between ACEs and education level, as well as with FOL and cognitive function in the older adults. Moreover, education level and FOL serve as sequential mediating factors in the relationship between ACEs and cognitive function.

Controlling false discovery rate for mediator selection in high-dimensional data

The need to select mediators from a high dimensional data source, such as neuroimaging data and genetic data, arises in much scientific research. In this work, we formulate a multiple-hypothesis testing framework for mediator selection from a high-dimensional candidate set, and propose a method, which extends the recent development in false discovery rate (FDR)-controlled variable selection with knockoff to select mediators with FDR control. We show that the proposed method and algorithm achieved finite sample FDR control. We present extensive simulation results to demonstrate the power and finite sample performance compared with the existing method. Lastly, we demonstrate the method for analyzing the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, in which the proposed method selects several resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging connectivity markers as mediators for the relationship between adverse childhood events and the crystallized composite score in the NIH toolbox.

Longitudinal Effects of Electronic Dating Violence on Depressive Symptoms and Delinquent Behaviors Across Adolescence

Depressive symptoms and delinquent behaviors that emerge during adolescence pose both short- and long-term negative outcomes. Though there is growing evidence that exposure to teen dating violence is also associated with a greater likelihood of depressive symptoms and delinquent behaviors such as engaging in peer violence and substance use, less is known about the effects of specific forms of electronic dating violence (i.e., electronic harassment, electronic coercion, and electronic monitoring) across adolescence on depressive symptoms and delinquent behaviors. Data were drawn from a 4-year prospective longitudinal study of two cohorts of youth followed from age 12 to 15 (n = 526, 52% female) and age 15 to 18 (n = 592, 53% female). Two mixed-effects models (stratified by cohort) were employed to evaluate depressive symptoms and delinquent behavior outcomes by exposure to electronic harassment, electronic coercion, and electronic monitoring, while accounting for verbal dating violence, physical dating violence, sexual dating violence, exposure to threat-based adverse childhood experiences, exposure to deprivation-based adverse childhood experiences, and gender across all four waves of data collection. Higher exposure to electronic sexual coercion was predictive of increased depression (β = .015, p = .018). Increased exposure to electronic sexual coercion (β = .007, p = .004) and electronic monitoring (β = .008, p = .045) were both predictive of more delinquency across adolescence. By delineating the effects of in-person verbal, physical, and sexual dating violence with unique electronic domains, we found unique additional risk from domains of electronic dating violence, which was particularly pronounced for youth who reported electronic sexual coercion. Electronic sexual coercion heightens the risk of depressive symptoms and delinquent behaviors in males and females beyond the risk presented by in-person forms of dating violence and should be accounted for in prevention and intervention programs. Future research should explore the effect of perceived normativity on the prevalence of electronic harassment and subsequent influence on outcomes.

Complex Intersections Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Negative Life Events Impact the Phenome of Major Depression

Background

There is evidence that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and negative life events (NLEs) are associated with major depression (MDD).

Purpose

To determine whether ACEs affect all features of mild MDD, including suicidal tendencies, brooding, neuroticism, insomnia, cognitive deficits, severity of depression and anxiety, and cognitive deficits, and whether NLEs mediate these effects.

Sample of the Study and Methods

This study examines a cohort of 118 academic students, namely 74 students who satisfied the DSM-5-TR criteria for MDD and 44 normal control students. We assessed brooding, neuroticism, suicidal ideation and attempts, and the severity of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and the Stroop tests.

Results

One validated factor could be extracted from brooding, neuroticism, current suicidal behaviors, and the severity of depression, anxiety, and insomnia, labeled the phenome of depression. A large part of the variance in the phenome of depression (55.0%) was explained by the combined effects of self-, relationships, and academic-related NLEs in conjunction with ACEs, including family dysfunction and abuse and neglect (both physical and emotional). The latter ACEs significantly interacted (moderating effect) with NLEs to impact the depression phenome. Although sexual abuse did not have direct effects on the phenome, its effects were mediated by NLEs. We discovered that increased sexual abuse, physical and emotional abuse and neglect, and ACEs related to family dysfunction predicted 22.5% of the variance in NLEs. Up to 18.5% of the variance in the Stroop test scores was explained by sexual abuse and the phenome of depression. The latter mediated the effects of NLEs and abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction on the Stroop test scores.

Conclusion

Complex intersections between ACEs and NLEs impact the phenome of depression, which comprises neuroticism, brooding, suicidal tendencies, and the severity of insomnia, anxiety, and depression, while sexual abuse together with other ACEs and NLEs may impact cognitive interference inhibition.

The influence of adverse childhood experiences and depression on addiction severity among methamphetamine users: exploring the role of perseveration

Aims

This investigation aimed to clarify the intricate relationship among depression, cognitive function, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and their combined influence on methamphetamine use disorder (MUD).

Methods

Utilizing a battery of psychological tests, this study ascertained the impact of ACEs on the condition of 76 people with MUD who meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria, aged 42.17 on average. The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), Conners' Continuous Performance-II (CPT-II), the self-report Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were used for these evaluations. Individuals involved in the study were categorized into two discrete cohorts, mild (ME) and severe (SE), based on the extent of their ACEs exposure. This study employed the PROCESS regression, the independent t-test andχ2 tests for the analysis.

Results

The findings revealed notable discrepancies in the psychological consequences between the two groups with different degrees of ACEs; however, no substantial differences were observed in the demographic parameters. The SE group exhibited elevated BDI-II scores, more evident indications of MUD, and a higher degree of CPT-II cognitive perseveration. The PROCESS model revealed that cognitive perseveration moderated the impact of depression on ACEs and subjective MUD severity, explaining 20.2% of the variance. The ACEs and depression predicted 28.6% of the variance in MUD symptoms. However, no statistically significant differences were detected between the two groups regarding the parameters in the IGT-2 assessment.

Conclusions

These results indicate that the interaction between cognitive and depressive factors mediates the effect of ACEs on subjective MUD severity but not on MUD symptoms. The ACEs significant impact on mental health severity perception is explained by cognitive and depressive factors. This implies that MUD treatment and rehabilitation should address cognitive dysfunction and developmental trauma.

The impact of adverse childhood experiences on depression in middle and late life: A national longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are one of the causes of depression in middle-aged and older adults, but the combined effects of ACEs, cognitive function and ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) on depression have not been fully explored.

METHODS

This study was based on data from 4 waves (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2018) of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, including 10,995 middle-aged and older adults. ACEs were derived from the 2014 self-report life history module. A latent variable growth curve model was used to assess the mediating effect of cognitive function and ability to perform ADL in the relationship between ACEs and depression.

RESULTS

ACEs were significantly associated with lower initial cognitive status (β = -0.156, P < .001), worse ability to perform ADL (β = 0.051, P < .001) and higher severity of depression (β = 0.228, P < .001). The results of mediation analysis indicated that the association between ACEs and the intercept of depression was partly mediated by the initial level of cognitive function and ADL, and the association between ACEs and the slope of depression was total mediated by cognitive (intercept and slope) and ADL (intercept and slope).

CONCLUSIONS

ACEs were associated with higher severity of depression in part due to lower cognitive function and worse ability to perform ADL. Interventions that focus on reducing ACEs and improving cognitive level and ability to perform ADL may effectively reduce the incidence of depression among middle-aged and older individuals.

Life-course stress, cognition, and diurnal cortisol in memory clinic patients without dementia

AIMS

To examine associations of life-course stress with cognition and diurnal cortisol patterns in older adulthood, as well as potential mediation effects of diurnal cortisol patterns and perceived stress on the association between life-course stress and cognition.

METHODS

127 participants without dementia were selected from a cohort of Swedish memory clinic patients. Cross-sectional associations between scores on two chronic stress questionnaires (perceived stress, stressful life events (SLEs)), five cognitive domains (overall cognition, memory, working memory, processing speed, perceptual reasoning), and two measures of diurnal cortisol patterns (total daily output, diurnal cortisol slope), as well as potential mediation effects of diurnal cortisol patterns and perceived stress on associations between life-course stress and cognition, were assessed using linear regressions.

RESULTS

Greater lifetime exposure to SLEs was associated with worse memory, working memory, and processing speed performance, but not with diurnal cortisol patterns. A greater number of SLEs in late childhood was associated with worse working memory and processing speed, while a greater number of SLEs in non-recent adulthood were associated with better overall cognition and perceptual reasoning. Greater perceived stress was associated with a flattened diurnal cortisol slope, but not with cognition. No evidence for interplay between self-reported and physiological stress markers was found in relation to cognition, although there appeared to be a significant positive indirect association between economic/legal SLEs and the diurnal cortisol slope via perceived stress.

CONCLUSIONS

The associations between SLEs and cognition depend on the period during which SLEs occur, but seem independent of late-life cortisol dysregulation.

Adverse childhood experiences and cognition: A cross-sectional study in Xhosa people living with schizophrenia and matched medical controls

BACKGROUND

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with impaired cognitive function in adult life in the general population as well as in people living with schizophrenia (PLS). Research on cognitive function in PLS in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) is, however, limited. The objectives of this study were to investigate the association between ACE types and various cognitive domains in a sample of PLS and matched medical controls, and to determine the moderating effect of group membership (PLS vs. medical controls) on these associations, in the South African setting.

METHODS

Participants (n PLS = 520; n medical controls = 832) completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I), and the University of Pennsylvania Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (PennCNB). An efficiency or speed score was used to assess performance across 9 cognitive domains. The association between exposure to different ACE types and 9 cognitive domains was examined using partial correlations and multiple linear regression models, adjusting for sex, age and education years. Finally, potential moderating effects of group membership (PLS vs. medical controls) on the association between ACEs and cognitive domains were tested.

RESULTS

In the entire sample, emotional and physical abuse predicted worse performance on sensorimotor and emotion identification domains. Also, emotional abuse was negatively associated with motor function, physical abuse was negatively associated with spatial processing, and physical neglect was negatively associated with face memory and emotion identification. In contrast, emotional neglect was related to better performance on abstraction and mental flexibility. No moderating effect of group membership was found on any of these associations.

CONCLUSION

Exposure to ACEs was associated with social and non-social cognition in adulthood, although the magnitude of these relationships was small and similar between PLS and matched medical controls. The nature of these associations differed across ACE subtype, suggesting the need for a nuanced approach to studying a range of mechanisms that may underlie different associations. However, a number of ACE subtypes were associated with worse performance on emotional identification, indicating that some underlying mechanisms may have more transversal impact. These findings contribute to the sparse body of literature on ACEs and cognition in PLS in LMIC.

Exploring stress response's role in executive function impairments among adults with early adverse childhood experiences

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are recognised as precursors to numerous physical and mental health challenges. However, research on their impact on inhibitory control and working memory, particularly among healthy young adults, remains limited. The role played by the stress response as a moderator in these effects is likewise underexplored. Our study addresses this gap by examining cognitive impairments in non-clinical adults with early childhood trauma, specifically trauma before the age of 13 years, and by assessing the influence of the stress response on these effects. A total of 15 participants with early ACEs were compared with a control group (n = 18) using the Corsi Block Tapping Test (CBTT) and Stroop Word Colour Test (SCWT). Results showed that participants with early ACEs exhibited lower scores on the SCWT but not the CBTT. The stress response emerged as a potential factor in the relationship between early ACEs and cognitive performance. The implications of these findings are then discussed in relation to the existing literature.

Childhood Emotional Neglect and Cognitive Function Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Mediating Role of Social Engagement

Studies have demonstrated that childhood maltreatment and adverse experiences lead to impaired cognitive function. However, relatively few studies have examined the independent effect of childhood emotional neglect on cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults, and the role of social engagement in this relationship. Using a sample from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, the current study examined the mediating role of social engagement in the association between childhood emotional neglect and cognitive function among middle-aged and older adults. Participants were 32,540 middle-aged and older adults (Mage = 63.45, SD = 8.83). Data were analyzed using a fixed effects model for panel data and bootstrap resampling method. Results showed that participants who experienced emotional neglect had poorer cognitive function (β = -.068, p < .001). Social engagement mediated 7.55% of the association between emotional neglect and cognitive function (β = -.004, 95% CI [-0.006, -0.002], p < .05). The results indicated that interventions are required to improve awareness of emotional neglect and facilitate healthy parenting practices. Further research on how to motivate adults who experienced emotional neglect to engage in social activities is necessary.

The Effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences on ADHD Symptom Reporting, Psychological Symptoms, and Cognitive Performance Among Adult Neuropsychological Referrals

OBJECTIVE

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are early life experiences that influence mental health outcomes, though there are mixed findings reported in relation to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. The current study compared adults who experienced ACEs on measures of ADHD symptom reporting, psychological symptoms, and neurocognitive test performance.

METHOD

The sample (n = 115) had mean age of 28.42 (SD = 6.46); educational attainment of 16.47 years (SD = 1.99); and was 35% male/65% female and racially/ethnically diverse. Participants completed measures of ACEs, ADHD symptoms, psychopathology, and perceived stress, as well as neuropsychological tests.

RESULTS

The high ACEs group endorsed higher levels of childhood/adulthood inattentive, impulsive, and hyperactive symptoms, and overall childhood symptoms when compared to the low ACEs group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a more comprehensive understanding of the association between ACEs and cognitive/mental health outcomes. Greater ACEs resulted in higher ADHD symptom reporting but not significantly greater psychological symptoms or worse neurocognitive performance.

Longitudinal Investigation of Bidirectional Relations Between Childhood Trauma and Emotion-Driven Impulsivity in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study

OBJECTIVE

Exposure to childhood trauma is associated with numerous adverse mental health consequences. Addressing important gaps in the existing research, the proposed study clarifies the longitudinal and bidirectional associations between childhood trauma and both negative and positive emotion-driven impulsivity.

METHOD

This study utilized a sample of 11,872 9- to 10-years-olds recruited from 21 research sites across the United States from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Ddevelopment (ABCD) Study. Childhood trauma was assessed at one- and two-year follow-ups. Negative and positive urgency were assessed at baseline and two-year follow-up. Cross-lagged panel models evaluated the longitudinal and bidirectional associations between childhood trauma and both negative and positive emotion-driven impulsivity.

RESULTS

Findings showed that earlier childhood trauma was associated with higher levels of later negative (β = 0.133, p < .001) and positive (β = 0.125, p < .001) emotion-driven impulsivity. Further, higher levels of earlier positive (β = 0.033, p < .006), but not negative (β = 0.010, p = .405), emotion-driven impulsivity were associated with later childhood trauma. Finally, the strength of the relations between childhood trauma and emotion-driven impulsivity did not differ by sex (ΔX2 = 10.228, p > .05).

DISCUSSION

Identification of both negative and positive emotion-driven impulsivity among children exposed to trauma may serve as a point of intervention to reduce subsequent risk for deleterious health outcomes.

Association of childhood trauma with cognitive domains in adult patients with mental disorders and in non-clinical populations: a systematic review

Although the association between cognitive performances and the onset of psychiatric disorders has been widely investigated, limited research on the role of childhood trauma or early life stress (CT/ELS), and whether this role differs between clinical and non-clinical cohorts is available. This systematic review aims at filling this gap, testing whether the occurrence of CT/ELS and its subtypes are associated with cognitive domains (general cognitive ability, executive functions, working memory, attention, processing speed, verbal/visual memory) in patients with psychiatric disorders and in non-clinical populations. This study followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for quality assessment. The search was performed until May 2022. Seventy-four studies were classified as eligible. The graphical representations of the results reported an association between exposure to CT/ELS and worse general cognitive ability, verbal/visual memory, processing speed and attention in patients affected by anxiety, mood and psychotic disorders, and that specific CT/ELS subtypes (physical neglect, physical/sexual abuse) can differentially influence specific cognitive abilities (executive functions, attention, working memory, verbal/visual memory). In non-clinical cohorts we found associations between CT/ELS exposure and impairments in executive functions, processing speed and working memory, while physical neglect was related to general cognitive ability and working memory. Concerning the emotional abuse/neglect subtypes in both populations, the results indicated their involvement in cognitive functioning; however, the few studies conducted are not enough to reach definitive conclusions. These findings suggest an association of CT/ELS with specific cognitive deficits and psychopathology.

Early life adversity as a risk factor for cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

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.

Early- to late-life environmental factors and late-life global cognition in septuagenarian and octogenarians: The SONIC study

This study aimed to evaluate cognitively stimulating environments throughout life and to examine direct and indirect associations between these environments and late-life cognition. Early-life education, three domains of work complexity (data, people, and things) based on the longest-held occupation, and engagement in late-life leisure activities (LAs) were assessed. A structural equation model was developed using cross-sectional data of 1721 Japanese older adults in 70 ± 1 and 80 ± 1 years. The model confirmed significant direct effects of work complexity with data and late-life LAs on late-life cognitive performance. The associations of education and work complexity with late-life cognition were mediated through the subsequent environment(s). However, the total effects of work complexity with people and things on late-life cognition were insignificant. The findings suggest that cognitively stimulating activities in adulthood and beyond may lead to individual differences in late-life global cognition. In addition, antecedent complex environments might make subsequent life environments more cognitively stimulating. The results are discussed from the perspectives of cognitive plasticity and environmental complexity.

Adverse childhood experiences and their impacts on subsequent depression and cognitive impairment in Chinese adults: A nationwide multi-center study

BACKGROUND

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE_S) are prevalent and have long-lasting effects. This study explored how ACE exposure is associated with subsequent depression and cognitive impairment and whether sociodemographic characteristics modify that association.

METHOD

This study used data on 14,484 participants of the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and 2014 CHARLS life history survey. Depression was assessed using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Cognitive performance was evaluated via three composite measures: episodic memory, mental intactness, and global cognition. Twelve ACE indicators were measured using a validated questionnaire. Multiple regression models and stratified analyses explored the relationship between ACE_S and subsequent depression and cognitive impairment, as well as potential modifiers.

RESULTS

Compared with individuals without ACE_S, those who experienced four or more ACE_S had a higher risk of subsequent depression (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 2.65, 95 % confidence intervals [CIs]: 2.21 to 3.16), poorer mental intactness (β = -0.317 [-0.508 to -0.125]), and worse global cognition (-0.437 [-0.693 to -0.181]). Trend analyses showed a dose-response association between accumulated ACE_S and subsequent depression and cognitive impairment. No modifications of those associations by age, sex, educational level, or family's financial status during childhood were observed.

LIMITATIONS

Self-reported measures could favour recall bias.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that ACE_S increase the risk of subsequent depression and cognitive impairment in Chinese adults regardless of sociodemographic characteristics. These findings provide important implications for mitigating the adverse effects of early-life stress and promoting health in adulthood.

Childhood mental health difficulties mediate the long-term association between early-life adversity at age 3 and poorer cognitive functioning at ages 11 and 14

BACKGROUND

Early-life adversity is associated with adverse mental health outcomes and poorer cognitive functioning in later development. However, little is known about how early-life adversity, mental health, and cognition affect one another or how the effects unfold over time. Here, we test the hypothesis that early-life adversity may lead to mental health challenges which in turn have adverse consequences for the development of cognitive abilities.

METHODS

In a large (N = 13,287) longitudinal (5 wave) sample assessed at ages 3, 5, 7, 11 and 14, we use both path analysis approach and latent growth curve mediation model to study whether poorer mental health in childhood may mediate the effects of early-life adversity on later working memory and vocabulary outcomes.

RESULTS

We found a significant total association between early-life adversity and poorer performance on working memory (β = .123, p < .001, [95% CI 0.106, 0.141]) and vocabulary scores (β = -.111, p < .001, [95% CI -0.129, -0.093]). Notably, current and previous mental health mediated a substantial proportion (working memory: 59%; vocabulary: 70%) of these effects. Further longitudinal modeling showed that early-life adversity has an enduring adverse effect on mental health, and that poorer mental health is associated with poorer cognitive performance later on in development. In a complementary analysis using latent growth curve mediation model, we found indirect associations between early-life adversity and working memory through baseline mental health at age 3 (intercept: β = .083, p < .001, [95% CI 0.072, 0.094]) and change in mental health across ages 3-11 (slope: β = -.012, p = .001, [95% CI -0.019, -0.005]). Likewise, baseline mental health at age 3 (intercept: β = -.095, p < .001, [95% CI -0.107, -0.083]) and change in mental health across ages 3-14 (slope: β = .007, p = .001, [95% CI 0.003, 0.011]) significantly and completely mediated the relation between early-life adversity and vocabulary outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings have important potential clinical and educational implications, because they suggest that academic and cognitive resilience may be supported through early mental health interventions in vulnerable children.

Neurocognition and its association with adverse childhood experiences and familial risk of mental illness

Environmental factors such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may affect neurocognition, an endophenotype for several mental illnesses. This study examines the effect of ACEs on neurocognitive performance in first-degree relatives (FDRs) of patients with severe mental illness to determine whether familial risk has a moderating effect on the relationship between ACEs and neurocognition. Unaffected FDRs from multiplex families with severe mental illnesses (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or alcohol use disorder) (n = 324) and healthy controls (with no familial risk) (n = 188) underwent neurocognitive tests for processing speed, new learning, working memory and Theory of Mind. ACEs were measured using the WHO ACE-International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ). Regression models were done to predict each neurocognitive domain by the effect of familial risk, ACE-IQ Score and their interaction (familial risk*ACE-IQ score). The main effect of familial risk predicted poor performance in all domains of neurocognition (p < 0.01), and the interaction had a negative association with global neurocognition (β = -0.093, p = 0.009), processing speed (β = -0.109, p = 0.003) and working memory (β = -0.092, p = 0.01). Among the ACEs sub-domains, only maltreatment (specifically the main effect of physical neglect and the interaction effect of sexual abuse with familial risk) predicted poorer neurocognition. In FDRs of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, only the main effects of familial risk were significantly associated with poorer neurocognition. We conclude that there is a relationship between ACEs (especially maltreatment) and neurocognitive functioning, which is moderated by the familial risk of mental illnesses. Genetic/familial vulnerability may have a stronger association with neurocognition in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Association of adverse childhood experiences with subjective cognitive decline in adulthood: Findings from a population-based study

OBJECTIVE

Adverse childhood experiences have been found to be associated with negative outcomes during adulthood. Emerging research indicates that adverse childhood experiences may elevate the risk for Alzheimer's disease. Yet, few studies have investigated the association between adverse childhood experiences and subjective cognitive decline among middle-aged and older adults in the United States. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between adverse childhood experiences and subjective cognitive decline among middle-aged and older adults in the United States.

METHODS

Data for this study were obtained from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. An analytic sample of 50,277 adults aged 45 to 79 years (53.3% female) from 15 states was analyzed using binary logistic regression. The outcome variable investigated in this study was subjective cognitive decline, and the main explanatory variable was adverse childhood experiences.

RESULTS

Of the 50,277 respondents, 10.3% reported experiencing subjective cognitive decline during the past year, and 14.5% had four or more adverse childhood experiences. We found a dose-response association between adverse childhood experiences and subjective cognitive decline. Respondents who had four or more adverse childhood experiences had 2.98 times higher odds of having subjective cognitive decline when compared to respondents with no adverse childhood experiences (aOR = 2.98, 95% CI = 2.56-3.48). Other factors associated with subjective cognitive decline have been identified and discussed.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study provide evidence indicating that early life factors may be linked with cognitive decline in later adulthood. The findings of this study are discussed with implications for practice and research.

Childhood maltreatment and cognitive functioning in middle adulthood

BACKGROUND

Childhood maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, and/or neglect) is associated with cognitive deficits in adulthood. Little is known about how childhood maltreatment affects the trajectory of cognitive functioning during early to middle adulthood.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between childhood maltreatment and change in cognitive functioning over a 10-year period in adulthood.

METHODS

Utilizing a prospective cohort design, a large group of court-substantiated cases of childhood maltreatment (ages 0-11) and demographically matched controls were followed into adulthood (N = 1196). Verbal intelligence and reading ability were assessed at age 29, and executive functioning was assessed at age 41. Linear, mixed-effects modeling was used to evaluate childhood maltreatment as a predictor of cognitive functioning and change in cognitive functioning over time.

RESULTS

Childhood maltreatment was associated with lower cognitive functioning at age 29 compared to controls (β = -0.28, p < .001), and this association was stronger for childhood neglect (β = -0.33, p < .001). Controls declined in cognitive functioning over the 10-year period (β = -0.12, p = .039), whereas childhood maltreatment overall was associated with no change. Adults with histories of neglect demonstrated an increase in cognitive functioning (β = 0.13, p = .021).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that childhood maltreatment is associated with cognitive functioning deficits in adulthood and suggest that cognitive change in adulthood may be differentially impacted by type of maltreatment. The initial deficit demonstrated by adults with childhood neglect was largely erased by a subsequent increase in cognitive functioning over 10 years.

Longitudinal Association Between Child Psychological Abuse and Neglect and Academic Achievement in Chinese Primary School Children: A Moderated Mediation Model

To investigate the relationships among child psychological abuse and neglect (CPAN), children’s learning engagement, family socioeconomic status (family SES), and children’s academic achievement, 271 children (M_age = 9.41 ± 0.81 years old) and their parents participated in this study with a longitudinal design. Results revealed that learning engagement at T1 mediated the relationship between CPAN at T1 and academic achievement at T2 when gender, age, grade, and academic achievement at T1 were under control. Family SES at T1 moderated the relationship between children’s learning engagement at T1 and academic achievement at T2. The association between learning engagement and academic achievement was stronger among children from lower family SES. Our findings highlighted the negative impact of CPAN and the critical role of learning engagement in children’s academic achievement, especially for those from low SES families.

Resting-State Functional Connectivity Differences in College Students with and without Food Insecurity

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate cross-sectional differences in functional connectivity across cognitive networks at rest among age and sex matched college students with very low food security [food insecurity (FI); n = 20] and with high food security (n = 20). The participants completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2 (BRIEF-2) and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) questionnaires. Seven-minute resting-state fMRI scans were collected. Independent Component Analysis assessed group connectivity differences in three large-scale networks: the default-mode network (DMN), the frontoparietal network (FPN), and the salience network (SN). FI was associated with poorer Global BRIEF scores (adjusted β = 8.36; 95% CI: 2.32, 14.40) and five BRIEF subscales: Inhibit, Initiate, Working Memory, Plan, and Organize (p-values < 0.05). The students with FI had greater functional connectivity between the FPN and left middle temporal gyrus (cluster size p-FWE = 0.029), the SN and precuneus (cluster size p-FWE < 0.001), and the SN and right middle frontal gyrus (cluster size p-FWE = 0.016) compared to the students with high food security. Exploratory correlations revealed that greater connectivity between the SN and right middle frontal gyrus was associated with poorer BRIEF Inhibit scores (p = 0.038), and greater connectivity between the FPN and left middle temporal gyrus was associated with poorer BRIEF Organize scores (p = 0.024) for the students with FI. Greater functional connectivity between the FPN, DMN, and SN at rest may contribute to executive function difficulties for college students with FI.

Trauma moderates the development of the oscillatory dynamics serving working memory in a sex-specific manner

Working memory, the ability to hold items in memory stores for further manipulation, is a higher order cognitive process that supports many aspects of daily life. Childhood trauma has been associated with altered cognitive development including particular deficits in verbal working memory (VWM), but the neural underpinnings remain poorly understood. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) studies of VWM have reliably shown decreased alpha activity in left-lateralized language regions during encoding, and increased alpha activity in parieto-occipital cortices during the maintenance phase. In this study, we examined whether childhood trauma affects behavioral performance and the oscillatory dynamics serving VWM using MEG in a cohort of 9- to 15-year-old youth. All participants completed a modified version of the UCLA Trauma History Profile and then performed a VWM task during MEG. Our findings indicated a sex-by-age-by-trauma three-way interaction, whereby younger females experiencing higher levels of trauma had the lowest d' accuracy scores and the strongest positive correlations with age (i.e. older performed better). Likewise, females with higher levels of childhood trauma exhibited altered age-related alpha changes during the maintenance phase within the right temporal and parietal cortices. These findings suggest that trauma exposure may alter the developmental trajectory of neural oscillations serving VWM processing in a sex-specific way.

Childhood Stressors, Relationship Quality, and Cognitive Health in Later Life

OBJECTIVES

The rising prevalence of cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and related disorders signals the need for a better understanding of how social factors may affect cognitive health for millions of Americans. Drawing from cumulative inequality theory, we aim to understand the implications of a stressful childhood on social relationships and cognitive health in later life.

METHODS

This study utilizes longitudinal data (2006-2016) from the Health and Retirement Study to examine pathways, both direct and indirect through social relationships in adulthood, from childhood stressors to cognitive health trajectories over time.

RESULTS

Respondents reporting a greater number of stressors in childhood had worse cognitive health over time, but those negative effects were not as steep as time progressed. Early-life stressors are also associated with less social support and more social strain in adulthood which, in turn, are associated with initial cognitive health. Finally, pathway analyses confirm that childhood stressors are indirectly associated with initial cognitive health through social strain and social support.

DISCUSSION

Findings reveal that a stressful childhood creates chains of risks that have lifelong implications for cognitive health, both directly and indirectly by creating obstacles for developing healthy and supportive social relationships.

Electronic Teen Dating Violence Curves by Age

Electronic dating violence is a form of violence perpetrated through electronics between dating partners and is associated with worse mental health, greater risk of substance use, and increased risk of in-person forms of dating violence. Though prevalent and seeming to increase in occurrence across adolescence, little is known about trajectories of electronic dating violence throughout adolescence and both risk and protective factors predicting a given trajectory. Latent growth models were used to evaluate change over time in three specific domains of electronic dating violence: harassment, coercion, and monitoring. Data are drawn from two cohorts who were surveyed annually for four years (2013-2017) from age 12 to 15 (n = 543; 48.3% female) and 15 to 18 (n = 597, 46.6% female), respectively. For all three domains of electronic dating violence, a quadratic model fit best. In general, electronic dating violence increased from early adolescence until a peak around age 16 or 17, and then leveled off. Threat-based adverse childhood experiences (i.e., exposure to physical child abuse, parental intimate partner violence, etc.) and earlier engagement in dating behaviors increased long-term risk for both age cohorts. Protective factors such as parental monitoring decreased risk but seemed to only have protective influence at developmentally-specific periods (i.e., during the developmental period of early adolescence). A better understanding of the risk and protective factors that affect the increase of electronic dating violence during adolescence is necessary to develop effective age-appropriate prevention and intervention strategies for youth.

Moderators of the association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and exposure to anaesthesia and surgery in children

BACKGROUND

Children's exposure to anaesthesia has been associated with risk of developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The goal of this study was to determine if selected patient characteristics moderate the association between exposure to anaesthesia and ADHD.

METHODS

In a cohort of children born in between 2006 and 2012, exposure to anaesthesia before the age of 5 yr was categorised into unexposed, singly, or multiply exposed. Weighted proportional hazard regression was performed to evaluate the hazard ratios (HRs) of ADHD diagnosis related to anaesthesia exposure. Interaction analyses were performed to evaluate potential moderators.

RESULTS

Among 185 002 children in the cohort, 9179 were diagnosed with ADHD. Compared with unexposed children, a single exposure to anaesthesia was associated with a HR of 1.39, (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32-1.47) for ADHD. Multiple exposures were associated with a HR of 1.75 (95% CI, 1.62-1.87). In the analyses evaluating moderators of the association between exposure and ADHD, only the interaction for race was statistically significant (P=0.006); exposure increased the incidence of ADHD to a greater extent in non-White compared with White children. Among children with a single exposure, the age at exposure did not affect the relationship between exposure and incidence of ADHD (P=0.78).

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure of young children to anaesthesia and surgery is associated with an increased incidence of ADHD, with more exposures associated with greater risk. Compared with White children, non-White children are at greater risk for reasons that are unknown but need to be further explored.