A - 99 Examining the Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Neuropsychological Functioning, and Neurocognitive Status among Older Adults

Abstract Objective Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poorer cognitive and mental health outcomes in adulthood. However, there is limited research elucidating the relationship between ACE severity and specific neuropsychological outcomes among examinees with cognitive impairment. This study assessed the relationship between ACE exposure and cognitive and psychiatric outcomes among older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Method This cross-sectional study included 75 patients (64% female; MAge = 67, SD = 8.6; MEducation = 12.8, SD = 3.2) undergoing neuropsychological evaluation at an academic medical center. Analyses of variance (ANOVAs) compared high versus low ACE groups on specific tests of verbal fluency, processing speed, working memory, executive functions, and on depression and anxiety measures. Groups were formed based on neurocognitive status (i.e., no diagnosis, mild cognitive impairment, dementia) and ANOVAs were re-run for each diagnosis. Results No significant differences were detected on neurocognitive measures among the overall group or when groups were subdivided by diagnosis. Among the overall sample, significant group differences were detected for depression and anxiety symptoms, F(1,73) = 16.696, p < 0.001 and F(1,73) = 12.268, p = 0.001 respectively, such that higher ACE groups endorsed significantly more psychiatric symptoms. Among the no-diagnosis group, depressive symptoms were bordering insignificance, p = 0.048, and no differences were detected for anxiety. By contrast, higher ACEs were associated with greater anxiety among the mild cognitive impairment group and greater depression among the dementia group. Conclusions Findings reinforce the impact of ACEs on psychiatric symptoms among older adults. Although there were no significant cognitive differences, further research is necessary to better understand the relationship between ACEs, neurocognitive impairment, and psychiatric functioning.