Adverse childhood experiences and late-life cognition: potential pathways and moderating psychosocial resources

Inequalities in cognitive function in later life have become an important concern in sociological research amid China’s rapid population aging. As a key form of early-life adversity, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may be associated with enduring effects on cognitive functioning in old age through processes of cumulative disadvantage across the life course. Using five waves of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this study examines the association between ACEs and cognitive functioning among Chinese adults aged 60 and above, while further exploring potential psychosocial pathways and moderating protective factors. The analysis is based on a balanced panel comprising 1,093 respondents and 5,465 person-wave observations and employs random-effects panel models. The results show that ACEs are significantly associated with lower levels of cognitive functioning in later life. Further analyses indicate that reduced social participation, stronger depressive symptoms, and less frequent internet use may partially account for this association. The moderation analysis shows that neither educational attainment nor sleep quality significantly moderats the association between ACEs and cognitive functioning. In contrast, having a cohabiting partner significantly moderates this association, suggesting that relational circumstances in later life may shape the cognitive consequences of childhood adversity. By linking early-life adversity to cognitive inequality in later life, this study sheds light on the social production of cognitive health in old age and provides new empirical evidence on cumulative disadvantage and the long-term significance of social support across the life course.