Adverse Childhood Experiences, Neurocognitive Functions, and Long-Term Mortality Risk

Is children’s neurocognitive development associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality in adulthood after accounting for adverse childhood experiences and other early life risk factors?In this cohort study of 49 853 children followed-up through middle adulthood, 8 of the 9 neurocognitive test scores studied were associated with a lower risk of mortality, with each SD higher scores on the neurocognitive tests associated with 9% to 15% lower risk of all-cause mortality through midadulthood. The associations between 3 neurocognitive test scores, particularly performance and full-scale intelligence quotient, with premature death varied by exposure to childhood adversity.These findings suggest that strong neurocognitive skills in early childhood are associated with long-term health, but for those exposed to multiple, co-occurring childhood adversities, neurocognitive skills alone may not be sufficient to offset the risks.

Corresponding Author: Jing Yu, PhD, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 6710B Rockledge Dr, Bethesda, MD 20817 (jing.yu2@nih.gov).

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