Early-life risks for transition from normal to impaired cognitive status after age 50.

Objectives

Explore whether early-life physical and mental health and early family environments are associated with cognitive outcomes in later life using a life course approach.

Method

Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 8213: baseline Mage = 67), we conducted a multivariable parametric survival analysis to evaluate how five domains of early-life disadvantage (low early-life SES, adverse parental behaviors, chronic diseases, early-life impairments, and early-life experiences) were associated with the timing of transition from normal cognition to impairment between 2006 and 2016.

Results

Over the study period, 52% of participants experienced a transition in cognitive status. Results showed that each additional indicator of low early-life SES and early-life impairment increased the risk of developing cognitive impairment. In contrast, early-life illness and early-life experiences were not associated with risk, and, unexpectedly, adverse parental behavior was linked to a decreased risk.

Conclusion

These findings underscore the importance of early-life conditions as predictors of later-life cognitive health and point to potential targets for future intervention research.