This study explored whether adverse experiences across the lifecourse are linked to a higher risk of dementia in later life. Researchers found that experiencing more adversity during adulthood was associated with a greater risk of developing dementia, with each additional adverse experience increasing risk. Two experiences stood out in particular: childhood abuse was linked to a 74% higher risk of dementia, while economic hardship in adulthood was linked to a 32% higher risk. The findings suggest that not all adverse experiences have the same impact, and that both the timing and type of adversity matter when considering dementia risk.
Katherine Taylor et al. | The association between adverse experiences throughout the life-course and risk of dementia in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing |Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 2026