Abstract
Objective: To examine whether persons who experienced adverse childhood events or recent negative life events have a worse cognitive performance and faster cognitive decline and the role of depression and apolipoprotein E-e4 in this relationship. Methods: The community-based sample consisted of 10-year follow-up data of 1312 persons participating in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (age range 65-85 years). Results: Persons who experienced adverse childhood events showed a faster 10-year decline in processing speed but only when depressive symptoms were experienced. Persons with more recent negative life events showed slower processing speed at baseline but no faster decline. Conclusions: Childhood adversity may cause biological or psychological vulnerability, which is associated with both depressive symptoms and cognitive decline in later life. The accumulation of recent negative life events did not affect cognitive functioning over a longer time period.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 128-138 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2014 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This study is based on data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, which is funded largely by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. This sponsor had no further role in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication.
