Thinking skills deteriorate faster in people who have experienced early trauma such as financial stress, poor health, and poorly educated or unemployed parents. Cognitive impairments include problems with memory, attention, speech, and fluency and may be precursors to dementia.
Neurologist Alexandra Alekhina spoke specifically for MedicForum about the significance of childhood trauma:
“Our socioeconomic status is closely intertwined with many aspects of our lifestyle and is especially associated with our risk of various diseases as we age. The effects of socioeconomic deprivation in childhood may persist into middle age and into late adulthood. Reducing social inequalities early in life could have an important impact on dementia prevention.”
Experts say sudden traumatic events, such as a parent's divorce, can have a greater impact than long-term experiences. They suggest that the effect may be partly due to high levels of the stress hormone in the brain.
Studies show that up to 40% of dementia cases can be prevented if modifiable risk factors are eliminated. This study shows how important it is for individuals and society to think about protecting brain health throughout life.
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