CHILDHOOD adversities are linked to faster ageing-related changes, including an increased risk of dementia, a 2026 review has found.
Others are biological variations, poorer cognition, subjective decline, functional impairment, and a heightened risk of mild cognitive impairment.
Abuse, neglect, and socioeconomic deprivation showed the most consistent associations.
Early Adversities and Dementia
There are nearly 10 million new cases of dementia annually.
It is currently the seventh leading cause of death and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older populations worldwide.
Women are disproportionately affected: they experience higher disability-adjusted life years and mortality due to dementia, but also provide 70% of care hours for people living with the disease.
There is a growing body of research showing that early adversities can influence brain health across biological systems and social environments, authors reported.
In fact, a 2023 systematic review found that people with childhood trauma have a 76% higher risk of all-cause dementia.
However, findings vary and rarely address broader structural conditions or global diversity.
Limited Comparability
Researchers encountered variation in how adversities are measured and an underrepresentation of global settings, which limited comparability.
For example, few studies looked at social and physical exposures together, incorporated structural determinants such as segregation or conflict into analysis, or assessed protective factors.
Addressing Structural and Environmental Influences
Researchers emphasised the need to move beyond single exposures and address the intersectional impact of structural and environmental influences on ageing-related changes.
It was proposed that an exposome-informed model should guide future studies to overcome this barrier, particularly alongside a broadening of diversity in research populations.
Through the identification of individuals affected by early-life adversities, targeted prevention strategies can be implemented to promote equitable brain health and resilience, the review concluded.
References
Baez S et al. Childhood adversities and the exposome in dementia risk and brain health. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2026;39(2):136-150.
Severs E et al. Traumatic life events and risk for dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Geriatr. 2023;DOI:10.1186/s12877-023-04287-1.
World Health Organization. Dementia. 2025. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia. Last accessed: 24 March 2026.
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