6533b861fe1ef96bd12c5950

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Early life stress and frailty in old age: the Helsinki birth cohort study

Katri RäikkönenEero KajantieEero KajantieEero KajantieJohan G. ErikssonJohan G. ErikssonMarkus J. HaapanenM. B. Von BonsdorffMika SimonenMinna K. SalonenMia-maria PeräläAnu-katriina PesonenPertti Pohjolainen

subject

MaleWorld War IImedicine.medical_treatmentEarly life stresslcsh:GeriatricsPHENOTYPE3124 Neurology and psychiatryCohort Studies0302 clinical medicineMALTREATMENT030212 general & internal medicineChildFinlandDepression (differential diagnoses)Aged 80 and overRehabilitationFrailtyConfoundingriskitekijätDEPRESSIONPREVALENCE5141 SociologyLife course approachFemaleHEALTHBirth cohortResearch ArticleSEX-DIFFERENCES515 Psychologylife-courseFrail Elderlyearly life stressfrailty03 medical and health sciencesINFLAMMATIONLife-courseterveysvaikutuksetmedicineHumansRisk factornatural experimentAgedADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCESbusiness.industryDISABILITY3112 NeurosciencesADULTSstressiEarly life stresslapsuuslcsh:RC952-954.63121 General medicine internal medicine and other clinical medicineRelative risksotalapsetRisk factorGeriatrics and GerontologyNatural experimentbusinessStress Psychological030217 neurology & neurosurgeryFollow-Up StudiesDemography

description

Background: Evidence suggests that early life stress (ELS) may extend its effect into adulthood and predispose an individual to adverse health outcomes. We investigated whether wartime parental separation, an indicator of severe ELS, would be associated with frailty in old age. Methods: Of the 972 participants belonging to the present sub-study of the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study, 117 (12. 0%) had been evacuated abroad unaccompanied by their parents in childhood during World War II. Frailty was assessed at a mean age of 71 years according to Fried's criteria. Results: Thirteen frail men (4 separated and 9 non-separated) and 20 frail women (2 separated and 18 non-separated) were identified. Compared to the non-separated men, men who had been separated had an increased relative risk ratio (RRR) of frailty (age-adjusted RRR 3.93, 95% CI 1.02, 15.11) that persisted after adjusting for several confounders. No associations were observed among women (RRR 0.62; 95% CI 0.13, 2.94). Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that ELS might extend its effects not just into adulthood but also into old age, and secondly, that men may be more vulnerable to the long-term effects of ELS. Peer reviewed

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2018-08-01BMC Geriatrics
10.1186/s12877-018-0873-5http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12877-018-0873-5