Early-Life Adversity Predicts Markers of Aging-Related Neuroinflammation, Neurodegeneration, and Cognitive Impairment in Women.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Despite the overwhelming evidence for profound and longstanding effects of early-life stress (ELS) on inflammation, brain structure, and molecular aging, its impact on human brain aging and risk for neurodegenerative disease is poorly understood. We examined the impact of ELS severity in interaction with age on blood-based markers of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, brain volumes, and cognitive function in middle-aged women.

Methods

We recruited 179 women (aged 30-60 years) with and without ELS exposure before the onset of puberty. Using Simoa technology, we assessed blood-based markers of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, including serum concentrations of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NfL). We further obtained

SUBMITTER: Fleck L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11889533 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature