The impact of cardiovascular health on the association between early life adversities and late‐life cognitive outcomes in Latino older adults

Abstract INTRODUCTION Early life adversities have been linked to negative health outcomes, though findings on their potential impact on cognition in older age are mixed. We investigated associations between early adversity and cognitive outcomes (baseline and decline) in older Latino adults, and cardiovascular health's impact on significant associations. METHOD Participants were 280 self‐identifying dementia‐free Latino adults aged ≥ 60. Mixed‐effects regression models investigated associations between total and domain‐specific adversities, cognitive outcomes, and cardiovascular health. RESULTS Total adversity (β = 0.01, P = 0.033), parental intimidation (β = 0.029, P = 0.027), and threat‐related adversity (β = 0.113, P = 0.004) were associated with better visuospatial ability. Threat was associated with better global cognition (β = 0.058, P = 0.014). Cardiovascular health moderated the association of threat (β = –0.006, P = 0.013) and household dysfunction (β = –0.004, P = 0.042) with semantic memory decline. CONCLUSION Results suggest a complex association between early adversity and cognition in older Latino adults.