Adverse childhood experiences and cognitive change in late-life depression

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Highlights•What is the primary question addressed by this study? The purpose of this study was to examine the association between adverse childhood experiences and one-year cognitive outcomes among older depressed adults.•What is the main finding of this study? Sexual abuse, physical abuse, and a measure of cumulative verbal/emotional, physical and sexual abuse were inversely associated with one-year change in total CERAD score.•What is the meaning of the finding? Childhood abuse may have long-term adverse effects, including a more progressive cognitive decline among older adults. Further studies are needed to understand this relationship.AbstractObjectivesTo determine the relationship of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) with change in cognitive performance over a 1-year period among older adults in treatment for depression.MethodsOlder depressed adults completed the ACEs questionnaire and the Consortium to Establish a Registry of Alzheimer's disease (CERAD) cognitive battery at baseline and were re-assessed with the CERAD one year later.ResultsChildhood physical abuse, sexual abuse, and verbal/emotional abuse, respectively, were reported by 25%, 17.5%, and 42% of participants. Total ACEs score was not associated with baseline cognitive performance or one-year change. However, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and a measure of cumulative verbal/emotional, physical, and sexual abuse were inversely associated with one-year change in total CERAD score.ConclusionsChildhood abuse may have long-term adverse effects, including placing depressed older adults at risk for progressive cognitive decline. ACEs should be considered in research and clinical management of depression in older adults.