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Association between childhood socioeconomic status and subjective memory complaints among older adults: results from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study 2010

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2019

Toshinori Nishizawa ,
Ayako Morita ,
Takeo Fujiwara  and
Katsunori Kondo
Toshinori Nishizawa
Affiliation:
Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
Ayako Morita
Affiliation:
Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
Takeo Fujiwara*
Affiliation:
Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
Katsunori Kondo
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Takeo Fujiwara, Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan. Phone/Fax: 81*9-5803-5190. Email: fujiwara.hlth@tmd.ac.jp.
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Abstract

Background:

Subjective memory complaints (SMC) have been suggested as an early marker of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the effects of early life conditions on the development of SMC in old age. This study is aimed at investigating the association between childhood socioeconomic status (SES) and SMC in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods:

We used the data of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, a population-based cohort study of people aged 65 years or older enrolled from 28 municipalities across Japan. Childhood SES and SMC in everyday life were assessed from the self-report questionnaire administered in 2010 (n = 16,184). Poisson regression was performed to determine their association, adjusted for potential confounders and life-course mediators and examined cohort effects.

Results:

We identified SMC in 47.4% of the participants. After adjusting for sex, age, and number of siblings, low and middle childhood SES were associated with 29% (prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22, 1.36) and 10% higher prevalence of SMC (PR: 1.10, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.17), respectively, compared with high childhood SES (p for trend <.001). The interaction terms between childhood SES and age groups were not statistically significant.

Conclusion:

Childhood SES is significantly associated with SMC among community-dwelling older adults. Efforts to minimize childhood poverty may diminish or delay the onset of SMC and dementia in later life.

Keywords

childhood SESJapanlife courseprodromal stage of dementiamemory problems
Type
Original Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 31 , Issue 12: Issue Theme: Assessment of Cognitive Impairment in East Asia , December 2019 , pp. 1699 - 1707
Copyright
© International Psychogeriatric Association 2019 

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