Childhood infectious diseases and old age cognitive functioning: a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older adults.
Anat RotsteinStephen Z LevinePublished in: International psychogeriatrics (2020)
The current study results are consistent with prior ecological findings indicating that some childhood infectious diseases are associated with better cognitive functioning in old-age. This points to an early-life modifiable risk factor associated with older-life cognitive functioning. Our results may reflect selective mortality and/or beneficial effects via hormetic processes.