INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 08 Program Schedule 02/16/2024 01:45 pm - 03:00 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 08: Cognition \| Cognitive Reserve Variables Final Abstract #40 Late-life Cognitive Effects and Dementia Prevalence Among Early Childhood War Survivors Sotiria Moza, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece Nikolaos Scarmeas, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece Efthimios Dardiotis, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece Paraskevi Sakka, Athens Alzheimer Association, Marousi, Greece Mary Yannakoulia, Harokopeio University, Athens, Greece Georgios Hadjigeorgiou, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Greece Mary Kosmidis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece Category: Dementia (Alzheimer's Disease) Keyword 1: cognitive functioning Keyword 2: aging (normal) Keyword 3: aging disorders Objective: Previous studies have shown that stressful events during childhood, particularly during the early years of development (Eriksson, Räikkönen, & Eriksson, J., 2014), may be associated with an increased risk of dementia in old age (Tani et al., 2020). In this context, it has been hypothesized that exposure to war during childhood may have a negative impact on cognition. However, to date, the studies having examined this research topic are limited, and have produced conflicting results (e.g., Donley, Lönnroos, Tuomainen, & Kauhanen, 2018; Ravona-Springer et al., 2011). In the present study, we explored whether exposure to war during in early childhood is associated with cognitive performance and the prevalence of dementia in later life. Participants and Methods: We examined data from 405 older participants (69.1% women, M^age=73.40 ± 5.50, Mean^education=8.06 ± 5.07) in Greece. Of them, 56 people were exposed to World War II (WWII; 1940-1944) during early childhood (0-5 years of age) while the rest had no direct exposure to WWII (were born after that time). Cognitive performance in old age was assessed with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Individual test results were standardized and grouped under 5 main cognitive composite domains, namely, memory, attention/processing speed, language, visuo-spatial ability, and executive function. Dementia diagnosis was made consensus meetings (including neurologists and neuropsychologists) based on DSM-IV-TR criteria. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the associations between war exposure in early childhood/no direct exposure and cognitive performance in old age. Results: The results showed that participants exposed to war during early childhood had higher odds of presenting better performance on visuospatial tasks (OR: 1.735, 95%CI: 1.25-2.39, p=.001) compared to people with no direct exposure to WWII, controlling for age, gender and years of education. No associations were found between exposure or no exposure to war during early childhood and the remaining cognitive domains or the prevalence of dementia (χ²=.180, p>.05). Conclusions: In our study, people exposed to war during early life presented better visuospatial performance than non-exposed individuals. This finding may be indicative of a higher visuospatial cognitive reserve developed among those who experienced the stressful war period, as a response to increasing their intrinsic capacity, resilience and skills, a theory supported by previous studies (e.g., Tran, Glück, & Lueger-Schuster, 2013). However, it may also be indicative of a delayed negative effect of the war aftermath inflicted upon children who were born after the end of WWII. For example, in previous studies (e.g., Chao, 2016) exposure to chemical substances during the war was inversely associated with visuospatial performance. Similar substances, like carbamates and organophosphates, used as chemical weapons in WWII may have had long lasting effects after the war’s end. In light of the recent war events occurring worldwide, further exploration of such associations would appear to be imperative.

Poster

02/16/2024
01:45 pm - 03:00 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 08: Cognition | Cognitive Reserve Variables

Final Abstract #40

Late-life Cognitive Effects and Dementia Prevalence Among Early Childhood War Survivors

Sotiria Moza, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Nikolaos Scarmeas, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Efthimios Dardiotis, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
Paraskevi Sakka, Athens Alzheimer Association, Marousi, Greece
Mary Yannakoulia, Harokopeio University, Athens, Greece
Georgios Hadjigeorgiou, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Greece
Mary Kosmidis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

Category: Dementia (Alzheimer's Disease)

Keyword 1: cognitive functioning
Keyword 2: aging (normal)
Keyword 3: aging disorders

Objective:

Previous studies have shown that stressful events during childhood, particularly during the early years of development (Eriksson, Räikkönen, & Eriksson, J., 2014), may be associated with an increased risk of dementia in old age (Tani et al., 2020). In this context, it has been hypothesized that exposure to war during childhood may have a negative impact on cognition. However, to date, the studies having examined this research topic are limited, and have produced conflicting results (e.g., Donley, Lönnroos, Tuomainen, & Kauhanen, 2018; Ravona-Springer et al., 2011). In the present study, we explored whether exposure to war during in early childhood is associated with cognitive performance and the prevalence of dementia in later life.

Participants and Methods:

We examined data from 405 older participants (69.1% women, M^age=73.40 ± 5.50, Mean^education=8.06 ± 5.07) in Greece. Of them, 56 people were exposed to World War II (WWII; 1940-1944) during early childhood (0-5 years of age) while the rest had no direct exposure to WWII (were born after that time). Cognitive performance in old age was assessed with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Individual test results were standardized and grouped under 5 main cognitive composite domains, namely, memory, attention/processing speed, language, visuo-spatial ability, and executive function. Dementia diagnosis was made consensus meetings (including neurologists and neuropsychologists) based on DSM-IV-TR criteria. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the associations between war exposure in early childhood/no direct exposure and cognitive performance in old age.

Results:

The results showed that participants exposed to war during early childhood had higher odds of presenting better performance on visuospatial tasks (OR: 1.735, 95%CI: 1.25-2.39, p=.001) compared to people with no direct exposure to WWII, controlling for age, gender and years of education. No associations were found between exposure or no exposure to war during early childhood and the remaining cognitive domains or the prevalence of dementia (χ²=.180, p>.05).

Conclusions:

In our study, people exposed to war during early life presented better visuospatial performance than non-exposed individuals. This finding may be indicative of a higher visuospatial cognitive reserve developed among those who experienced the stressful war period, as a response to increasing their intrinsic capacity, resilience and skills, a theory supported by previous studies (e.g., Tran, Glück, & Lueger-Schuster, 2013). However, it may also be indicative of a delayed negative effect of the war aftermath inflicted upon children who were born after the end of WWII. For example, in previous studies (e.g., Chao, 2016) exposure to chemical substances during the war was inversely associated with visuospatial performance. Similar substances, like carbamates and organophosphates, used as chemical weapons in WWII may have had long lasting effects after the war’s end. In light of the recent war events occurring worldwide, further exploration of such associations would appear to be imperative.