Effects of early-life adversity on cognitive decline in older African Americans and whites.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Early-life adversity is related to adult health in old age but little is known about its relation with cognitive decline.

Methods

Participants included more than 6,100 older residents (mean age = 74.9 [7.1] years; 61.8% African American) enrolled in the Chicago Health and Aging Project, a geographically defined, population-based study of risk factors for Alzheimer disease. Participants were interviewed at approximately 3-year intervals for up to 16 years. The interview included a baseline evaluation of early-life adversity, and administration of 4 brief cognitive function tests to assess change in cognitive function. We estimated the relation of early-life adversity to rate of cognitive decline in a series of mixed-effects models.

Results

In models stratifi

SUBMITTER: Barnes LL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3578376 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature