Abstract
Background Early Life Adversity (ELA) is a significant risk factor for mental health disorders. One hypothesised mechanism by which this occurs is via an effect on immune response. In this analysis of epidemiological data, we tested whether ELA was associated with cognitive performance, and if so, whether these effects were influenced by immune function.
Methods We investigated the longitudinal relationship between ELA, inflammatory markers and cognition in data from Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents And Children (ALSPAC; n~5,000). ELA was defined in terms of physical/emotional abuse, harsh parenting, or domestic violence before 5 years. Social cognition was measured in terms of theory of mind, and general cognitive ability was measured using IQ. Inflammatory markers included serum C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels.
Results A significant association was observed between IQ and harsh parenting, whereby children who were physically disciplined had lower IQ scores (accounting for relevant social factors). Both immune markers were associated with variation in cognition; however, neither accounted for the effects of ELA on cognition.
Discussion This study highlights the impact of ELA on cognition. In the absence of evidence that these effects are explained by inflammation, other mechanisms by which the effects of ELA are mediated are discussed.
Methods We investigated the longitudinal relationship between ELA, inflammatory markers and cognition in data from Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents And Children (ALSPAC; n~5,000). ELA was defined in terms of physical/emotional abuse, harsh parenting, or domestic violence before 5 years. Social cognition was measured in terms of theory of mind, and general cognitive ability was measured using IQ. Inflammatory markers included serum C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels.
Results A significant association was observed between IQ and harsh parenting, whereby children who were physically disciplined had lower IQ scores (accounting for relevant social factors). Both immune markers were associated with variation in cognition; however, neither accounted for the effects of ELA on cognition.
Discussion This study highlights the impact of ELA on cognition. In the absence of evidence that these effects are explained by inflammation, other mechanisms by which the effects of ELA are mediated are discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology |
| Early online date | 2 Jan 2020 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 2 Jan 2020 |
Keywords
- Cognition
- ALSPAC
- Adversity
- Immune response
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This is the author accepted manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via Springer Nature at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00127-019-01813-8. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.