The Association Between Childhood Adversity and Cognitive Aging Trajectory in Later Life: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the association between childhood adversity and cognitive aging trajectories among Chinese older adults, exploring the mediating role of depressive symptoms.

METHODS

Using five waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS 2011-2020), we applied the group-based trajectory model, multinomial logistic regression and mediation analysis.

RESULTS

Cognitive aging trajectories in older Chinese adults were classified into three patterns: high baseline with slow decline (HBSD), medium baseline with moderate decline (MBMD), and low baseline with rapid decline (LBRD). Childhood adversity increased the likelihood of being in the LBRD (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.15-1.27) and MBMD (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.06-1.15) compared with HBSD, and in the LBRD relative to MBMD (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05-1.15). Depressive symptoms significantly mediated the associations between childhood adversity and cognitive aging trajectories.

CONCLUSIONS

Childhood adversity has a direct effect and an indirect effect on cognitive aging trajectories through the depressive symptoms. Addressing depressive symptoms may help mitigate the long-term negative impact of early-life adversity on cognitive aging in older adults.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Targeting depressive symptoms may be a key intervention point for promoting healthy cognitive aging in older adults who experienced childhood adversity.