Effects of early life adversity on immune function and cognitive performance: results from the ALSPAC cohort

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effects of early life adversity on immune function and cognitive performance

T2 - results from the ALSPAC cohort

AU - Holland, Jessica F

AU - Khandaker, Golam M

AU - Dauvermann, Maria R

AU - Morris, Derek

AU - Zammit, Stanley

AU - Donohoe, Gary

PY - 2020/6

Y1 - 2020/6

N2 - 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 ~ 5000). 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.

AB - 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 ~ 5000). 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.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Adverse Childhood Experiences

KW - Biomarkers/blood

KW - C-Reactive Protein/analysis

KW - Child

KW - Child, Preschool

KW - Cognition

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Inflammation

KW - Interleukin-6/blood

KW - Longitudinal Studies

KW - Male

KW - Mental Disorders/blood

KW - Risk Factors

KW - Theory of Mind

KW - United Kingdom/epidemiology

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1007/s00127-019-01813-8

DO - 10.1007/s00127-019-01813-8

M3 - Article

C2 - 31897578

SN - 0933-7954

VL - 55

SP - 723

EP - 733

JO - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

JF - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

IS - 6

ER -