Alcohol exposure and cognitive development: An example of why we need contextualised, dynamic life course approach to cognitive ageing

dc.contributor.authorAnstey, Kaarin
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-08T22:48:22Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.date.updated2015-12-08T11:05:38Z
dc.description.abstractBackground: A substantial literature exists that demonstrates associations between putative risk factors and cognitive decline in late life. However, there is a need to integrate this broad literature within a framework that incorporates the interaction of behavioral and ecological influences with cognitive development. Such a framework is required for developing a range of personal and environmental interventions to optimize cognitive development in the population, and to reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in late life. Objective: This review aims to identify the key considerations for developing a life course model of the various factors that influence cognitive development and cognitive decline. A contextualized, dynamic approach to life course epidemiology is proposed. Methods: A theoretical evaluation of key methodological and interpretational issues relating to how risk factors influence cognitive development and cognitive impairment was conducted. This focused on the example of alcohol consumption as a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. Results: This review identified dimensions that need to be accounted for in life course theories of cognitive development and cognitive impairment. These include: (a) intergenerational influences; (b) methodological and interpretational issues; (c) individual differences (personal factors); (d) contextual factors (environmental or ecological factors), and (e) cognitive ability as determinant. The methodological and interpretational factors included measurement of exposure and outcome variables; the important distinction between level of ability versus change over time; nonlinear relationships among exposures and outcomes, and outcomes and age; the distinction between association and cause, and between short-term effects and long-term change. Conclusion: A contextualized, dynamic approach to life course epidemiology accounts for the complex range of influences over the life course that interact to determine normal and pathological cognitive ageing. This approach provides a framework for the development of interventions to maximize cognitive gains in early life, and minimize cognitive loss in late life.
dc.identifier.issn0304-324X
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/38301
dc.publisherS Karger AG
dc.sourceGerontology
dc.subjectKeywords: alcohol; aging; alcohol consumption; climate; cognitive defect; cognitive development; comorbidity; conceptual framework; cultural anthropology; dementia; diet; ecology; environmental exposure; environmental factor; ethnicity; genetics; human; life cycle; Alcohol; Cognition; Dementia; Life course epidemiology; Lifespan psychology
dc.titleAlcohol exposure and cognitive development: An example of why we need contextualised, dynamic life course approach to cognitive ageing
dc.typeJournal article
local.bibliographicCitation.issue5
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage291
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage283
local.contributor.affiliationAnstey, Kaarin, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.contributor.authoremailu4038535@anu.edu.au
local.contributor.authoruidAnstey, Kaarin, u4038535
local.description.embargo2037-12-31
local.description.notesImported from ARIES
local.identifier.absfor111714 - Mental Health
local.identifier.absseo920112 - Neurodegenerative Disorders Related to Ageing
local.identifier.ariespublicationU4146231xPUB160
local.identifier.citationvolume54
local.identifier.doi10.1159/000161735
local.identifier.scopusID2-s2.0-53649085103
local.identifier.thomsonID000259876100006
local.identifier.uidSubmittedByU4146231
local.type.statusPublished Version

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