Cardiovascular Risk Factors From Early Childhood and Cognitive Function in Young Adulthood

OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular health promotion in adulthood is crucial for early prevention of cognitive decline, but prior data on the role of promotion starting from infancy are scarce. We studied the associations between cardiovascular risk factors from infancy to young adulthood and young adulthood cognitive function. METHODS: Participants from the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project were observed from infancy to young adulthood on cardiovascular risk factors including serum lipids, glucose metabolism markers, blood pressure, and obesity markers. Exposure in early childhood (age 7 months to 5 years), childhood (6-10 years), early adolescence (11-15 years), and adolescence (16-20 years) were defined. Learning and memory, verbal memory, working memory, reaction time, information processing, and cognitive flexibility were measured at age 26 years. RESULTS: Higher childhood and early adolescence body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference associated inversely with cognitive flexibility (BMI: β = -0.240, 95% CI -0.48 to -0.00, P = .05; β = -0.315, 95% CI -0.57 to -0.06, P = .01; waist circumference: β = -0.260, 95% CI -0.51 to -0.01, P = .04; β = -0.257, 95% CI -0.51 to -0.01, P = .05); corresponding associations were observed between BMI and information processing (β = -0.308, 95% CI -0.53 to -0.09, P = .006; β = -0.243, 95% CI -0.47 to -0.01, P = .04). Higher adolescence and early adolescence low-density lipoprotein cholesterol associated inversely with verbal memory (β = -0.268, 95% CI -0.51 to -0.02, P = .03; β = -0.264, 95% CI -0.52 to -0.01, P = .04). Lower childhood and adolescence high-density lipoprotein cholesterol associated inversely with cognitive flexibility (β = -0.318, 95% CI -0.56 to -0.07, P = .01; β = -0.260, 95% CI -0.52 to -0.00, P = .05). Higher systolic blood pressure in childhood associated inversely with cognitive flexibility (β = -0.316, 95% CI -0.58 to -0.06, P = .02). CONCLUSION: Adverse serum lipid profile, high BMI, large waist circumference, and higher blood pressure from infancy to adolescence may associate with poorer cognitive function in young adulthood.