Takeaway
Adverse childhood experiences may be linked to dementia onset in later life among older Japanese adults, with a cumulative number of adverse childhood experiences associated with an increased risk of developing dementia.
Why this matters
Individuals who have experienced adverse childhood events show deficits in brain structure and function. Recent evidence suggests that a non-adverse childhood environment is crucial to develop enough cognitive reserve to prevent dementia. Understanding the effects of adverse childhood experiences on dementia onset is needed for the development of evidence-based prevention strategies.