No Association Found: Adverse Childhood Experiences and Cognitive Impairment in Older Australian Adults

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between childhood adversity and cognitive impairment in older adults.

Methods

We analysed data from 1568 participants aged 72–79 (M = 75.1, SD = 1.5, % male = 52.6%) from Wave 4 of the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Project. The outcome variable was the presence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, determined through a clinically validated algorithmic diagnostic criteria. Childhood adversity was assessed using a 17-item scale covering various domestic adversities such as poverty, neglect, physical abuse, and verbal abuse. Adversity was operationalised using cumulative analysis, dichotomisation (<3 adversities; 3+ adversities), and latent class analysis. Multiple logistic regressions were employed to estimate the association between childhood adversity and cognitive impairment, while controlling for covariates including education, gender, ethnicity, and APOE ε4 status.

Results

Our analyses revealed no significant association between childhood adversity and the presence of MCI or dementia across all tested models. Sensitivity analyses, exploring alternative scenarios, consistently failed to yield statistically significant findings.

Conclusion

In contrast to prevailing research findings, this study does not support a link between childhood domestic adversity and late-life cognitive outcomes. These results underscore the mixed results on adversity and cognition, highlighting the need for further research. Future investigations should consider the roles of potential mediating and protective factors within this complex relationship.