Early life adversity as a risk factor for cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Neurological conditions, including cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), impose a huge burden on society, affecting millions of people globally. In addition to genetic factors, recent studies indicate that environmental and experiential factors may contribute to the pathogenesis of these diseases. Early life adversity (ELA) has a profound impact on brain function and health later in life. In rodent models, exposure to ELA results in specific cognitive deficits and aggravated AD pathology. Extensive concerns have been raised regarding the higher risk of developing cognitive impairments in people with a history of ELA. In this review, we scrutinize findings from human and animal studies focusing on the connection of ELA with cognitive impairment and AD. These discoveries suggest that ELA, especially at early postnatal stages, increases susceptibility to cognitive impairment and AD later in life. In terms of mechanisms, ELA could lead to dysregulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, altered gut microbiome, persistent inflammation, oligodendrocyte dysfunction, hypomyelination, and aberrant adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Crosstalks among these events may synergistically contribute to cognitive impairment later in life. Additionally, we discuss several interventions that may alleviate adverse consequences of ELA. Further investigation into this crucial area will help improve ELA management and reduce the burden of related neurological conditions.

Hydrogen peroxide in breast milk is crucial for gut microbiota formation and myelin development in neonatal mice

“…Brain development is particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of early life dysbiosis. 50 , 51 In this study, our results demonstrated that early life dysbiosis induced by insufficient H 2 O 2 levels of LAO1-absent breast milk impaired spatial learning in adults‘ Morris water maze test and object location test. A previous study also indicated that early life dysbiosis caused by antibiotic treatment from P1 to P28 induced a disability in spatial learning and memory in this test.…”

Myelin Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease: Potential Therapeutic Opportunities

“…Besides the main mechanisms discussed above, other potential mechanisms may also contribute to myelin degradation in the context of AD. Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress are common pathological events during the progression of AD [ 106 , 107 ]. The activation of various inflammatory signaling pathways and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are characteristic features of AD progression.…”

A study on the influence of a single bout of moderate-intensity exercise on processing bias towards emotional information of individuals with high psychosocial stress levels

“…Studies have confirmed that psychosocial stress can lead to the imbalance of homeostasis and cause mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, addictive behavior, psychosis (Zhao et al, 2021;Phillips et al, 2015;Restrepo & Lemos, 2021;Abdel Wahed & Hassan, 2017;Magalhães et al, 2022;Colizzi et al, 2023;Mansueto & Faravelli, 2022), induce the crime (Liu, 2016), cause eating disorder or increase the suicide tendency (Degortes et al, 2014;Black et al, 2019;Polanco-Roman et al, 2016;Currier et al, 2016;Stack & Bowman, 2023). Researchs also indicated that psychosocial stress can lead to diabetes, asthma, vitiligo, alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease and aggravated the illness (Turin & Drobnič Radobuljac, 2021;Priftis & Anthracopoulos, 2008;Krüger et al, 2011;Amaducci et al, 1986;Huang et al, 2023;Khayyam-Nekouei et al, 2013;sun et al, 2017;Lutskyi et al, 2020;Matthews & Li, 2023). Chronic psychosocial stress can also induce malignant tumors, such as ovarian cancer and breast cancer (Lutgendorf et al, 2013;Bower et al, 2014).…”