The relationship between adverse childhood experiences, childhood socioeconomic status, and cognitive impairment in middle and older adulthood: the mediating role of lifestyle

To reveal the relationship between adverse childhood experiences, childhood socioeconomic status, and cognitive impairment in middle-aged and older adults, this study analyzed 4,964 middle-aged and older adults aged 45 years and above (median follow-up 8.9 years) based on data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the independent and joint associations of adverse childhood experiences and childhood socioeconomic status with cognitive impairment, and to test their interaction and the mediating effect of lifestyle. The results found that individuals who experienced ≥3 adverse childhood experiences had a 36% increased risk of cognitive impairment, and those with low childhood socioeconomic status had a 38% increased risk of cognitive impairment; the combination of the two...