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Abstract
Objective: Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) causes subclinical brain vascular lesions detected using neuroimaging and childhood factors may increase later CVD risk.
Methods: We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and EMBASE, and meta-analyzed all available evidence on childhood (premorbid) IQ, socioeconomic status (SES), education, and subclinical CVD in later life. Overall odds ratios (OR), mean difference or correlation, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random effects methods.
Results: We identified 30 relevant studies (n = 22,890). Lower childhood IQ and lower childhood SES were associated with more white matter hyperintensities (WMH) (IQ: n = 1,512, r = −0.07, 95% CI −0.12 to −0.02, p = 0.007; SES: n = 243, deep WMH r = −0.18, periventricular WMH r = −0.146). Fewer years of education were associated with several CVD markers (n = 15,439, OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.31, p = 0.003). No studies assessed early life factors combined.
Conclusions: Childhood IQ, SES, and education are associated with increased risk of CVD on neuroimaging in later life. Further studies are required to provide further evidence and thereby inform policy.
GLOSSARY
- CI=
- confidence interval;
- CVD=
- cerebrovascular disease;
- MD=
- mean difference;
- OR=
- odds ratio;
- SES=
- socioeconomic status;
- SVD=
- small vessel disease;
- WMH=
- white matter hyperintensities
Footnotes
Go to Neurology.org for full disclosures. Funding information and disclosures deemed relevant by the authors, if any, are provided at the end of the article.
Supplemental data at Neurology.org
- Received July 22, 2016.
- Accepted in final form December 14, 2016.
- © 2017 American Academy of Neurology
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