Adverse childhood events and cognitive function among young adults: Prospective results from the national longitudinal study of adolescent to adult health

Citation

Hawkins, Misty A. W.; Layman, Harley M.; Ganson, Kyle T.; Tabler, Jennifer; Ciciolla, Lucia; Tsotsoros, Cindy E.; & Nagata, Jason M. (2021). Adverse childhood events and cognitive function among young adults: Prospective results from the national longitudinal study of adolescent to adult health. Child Abuse & Neglect. vol. 115

Abstract

Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may have lasting impacts on cognition. Objective To determine if ACE exposure is prospectively associated with cognition in young adults. We hypothesized that deprivation- and threat-type ACEs as well as higher cumulative ACE exposure predict poorer cognition. Participants & setting Participants were from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), a prospective cohort investigation of U.S. adolescents followed to adulthood. Current study participants were 18−24 years old (Wave III), 24−32 years old (Wave IV), and 31–42 years old (Wave V). The maximum Wave IV sample was 12,288 adults; Wave V was 1277 adults. Methods History of ACEs were assessed at Wave III. Three cognitive indicators were assessed at Wave IV and Wave V using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (immediate and delayed verbal memory) and the Digit-Span Backward Task (working memory). Results The deprivation ACE of not-having-basic-needs met was associated with poorer working (β = 0.14, CI95 -0.26, −0.01), immediate (β=−0.29, CI95 −0.43, −0.15), and delayed memory (β=-0.27, CI95 −0.43, −0.12) at Wave IV; poorer immediate (β=−0.47, CI95–0.79, −0.16) and delayed memory (β=−0.33, CI95 -0.65, −0.01) at Wave V. The threat ACE of sexual abuse was associated with poorer immediate (β=−0.40, CI95 −0.62, −0.17) and delayed memory (β=−0.29, CI95 −0.55, −0.03) at Wave IV. Higher cumulative ACEs predicted poorer delayed memory (β =−0.05, CI95 −0.10, −0.01) at Wave V. Conclusions Higher ACEs, especially deprivation-type, were prospectively linked to poorer cognition. Early wide-scale screening/tailored treatments addressing ACEs and cognitive function may be warranted.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105008

Keyword(s)

Adverse childhood experiences

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Child Abuse & Neglect

Author(s)

Hawkins, Misty A. W.
Layman, Harley M.
Ganson, Kyle T.
Tabler, Jennifer
Ciciolla, Lucia
Tsotsoros, Cindy E.
Nagata, Jason M.

Year Published

2021

Volume Number

115

DOI

10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105008

Reference ID

9599