The negative impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on mental health has been well documented. While most of the evidence comes from samples of adolescents and young adults, few studies have investigated whether ACEs contribute to poorer mental health among older adults. In particular, depressive symptoms are common in old age, and they display heterogeneous patterns of development across individuals. Therefore, it is important to examine if ACEs are predictive of distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms among older adults.

Using longitudinal data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), we aimed to examine if ACEs could differentiate between distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms over eight years in community-dwelling older adults.

Participants from ELSA aged 60 or above who reported no psychiatric diagnoses and completed the items of ACEs at baseline (wave 3) were included in the current study. Nine items of ACEs were subject to a principal component analysis to identify the underlying subtypes. Data of depressive symptoms from waves 3 to 7 (2-year apart), assessed with the 8-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, were extracted for modelling the distinct trajectories using latent class growth analysis. The trajectories were predicted by subtypes of ACEs using multinomial logistic regression, adjusting for childhood socioeconomic status, sex, age and ethnicity.

The final sample consisted of 4057 participants (54.4% female, mean age= 71.34 (SD= 8.14)). We identified five trajectories of depressive symptoms (Figure 1): ‘low stable’ (73.4%), ‘increasing then decreasing’ (9.9%), ‘high decreasing’ (7.1%), ‘high stable’ (5.7%) and ‘moderate increasing’ (4.0%). Four subtypes of ACEs (i.e., sexual abuse, separation from natural parents, family dysfunction and physical assault) were evident. Compared to the ‘low stable’ group, higher levels of family dysfunction were reported in the ‘increasing then decreasing’ (aOR = 1.35, 95% CI [1.10 - 1.66], p = .012), ‘high stable’ (aOR = 1.59, 95% CI [1.30 - 1.96], p < .001) and ‘moderate increasing’ (aOR = 1.55, 95% CI [1.18 - 2.04], p = .011) groups. The ‘high stable’ group also reported a higher level of separation from natural parents than the ‘low stable’ group (aOR = 1.34, 95% CI [1.04 - 1.72], p = .047). Sexual abuse and physical assault did not predict any group differences.

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Distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms among older adults were predicted by family dysfunction in childhood. Our findings suggested that the negative impact of ACEs on mental health may extend beyond adolescence and young adulthood into the old age.

None Declared

The present study aimed to develop neuropsychological norms for older Asian Americans with English as a primary or secondary language, using data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC).

A normative sample of Asian American participants was derived from the NACC database using robust criteria: participants were cognitively unimpaired at baseline (i.e., no MCI or dementia) and remained cognitively unimpaired at 1-year follow-up. Clinical and demographic characteristics were compared between Primary and Secondary English speakers using analyses of variance for continuous measures and chi-square tests for categorical variables. Linear regression models compared neuropsychological performance between the groups, adjusting for demographics (age, sex, and education). Regression models were developed for clinical application to compute demographically adjusted z-scores.

Secondary English speakers were younger than Primary English speakers (p < .001). There were significant differences between the groups on measures of mental status (Mini-Mental State Examination, p = .002), attention (Trail Making Test A, Digit Span Forward Total Score, p <.001), language (Boston Naming Test, Animal Fluency, Vegetable Fluency, p < .001), and executive function (Trail Making Test B, p = .02).

Separate normative data are needed for Primary vs. Secondary English speakers from Asian American backgrounds. We provide normative data on older Asian Americans to enable clinicians to account for English use in the interpretation of neuropsychological assessment scores.

Persons newly diagnosed with dementia and their family member is imperative often experience uncertainty and inadequate support. This study aims to evaluate a post-diagnostic support programme guided by the 5 Pillars Model proposed by Alzheimer Scotland on the self-efficacy among persons with early dementia and their family members.

A prospective cohort study design was conducted between 2019 and 2022. Subject recruitment was conducted in four non-government organizations. A multi-domain empowerment programme, covering various aspects about dementia knowledge, management skills, peer support, future decision-making and community resources, was developed. The programme was provided to people newly diagnosed of early dementia in small group format over 2 months and to family members individually through an eLearning platform over 9 months. Self efficacy in dementia management of people with dementia and their family members were measured using Chronic Disease Self-efficacy Scale and Caregiver Self-efficacy Scale (CSES), respectively, whereas caregiving burden was measured using Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Study outcomes were measured at baseline, immediate and 6-month post-intervention. Paired t-tests were performed to detect within-subject changes over time.

A total of 151 persons with early dementia and 294 family caregivers completed assessment at baseline and follow up. Self-efficacy in dementia management reported by persons with dementia at 6-month post-intervention was significantly higher than that reported at baseline (p = .021) and immediate post-intervention (i.e. 2-month follow up) (p = .006). Family members reported a significantly higher CSES score (p < .001) and subscale scores in thoughts (p = .001) and disruptive behaviour management (p = .001) at 9-month follow up, but significant reduction in caregiving burden (p < .001) was only noted among those who perceived higher burden than the local norms at baseline (ZBI score ≥ 25, n = 110).

This study provides empirical evidence that post-diagnostic support would empower persons with early dementia and their family members on adapting the impacts brought by dementia. Further study on examining the longer term effects on care outcomes and health service utilisation would be valuable.

People with dementia are more prone to premature nursing home placement after hospitalization due to physical and mental deconditioning which makes care-at- home more difficult. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a post hospital discharge transitional care program on reduction of nursing home placement in people with dementia.

A matched case-control study was conducted between 2018 and 2021. A transitional care program using case management approach was developed. Participants enrolled the program by self-enrolment or referral from hospitals or NGOs. Community-dwelling people with dementia discharged from hospitals received a four- week residential care at a dementia care centre with intensive nursing care, physiotherapy and group activities promoting social engagement, followed by eight- week day care rehabilitation activities to improve their mobility and cognitive functioning. They were matched on a 1:5 ratio by age and sex to people with dementia discharged from a convalescent hospital who did not participate in this program for comparison. The study outcome was nursing home admission, measured three months (i.e. post-intervention), six months, and nine months after hospital discharge. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted to investigate factors associated with nursing home placement at each measurement time-point.

361 hospital admission episodes (n=67 interevntion, n=294 control) were examined. The regression results showed that participants in the intervention group were significantly less likely to be admitted to nursing home three months (OR = 0.023, 95% CI: 0.003-0.201, p = .001) and six months (OR = 0.094, 95% CI: 0.025-0.353, p = .001) than the controls after hospital discharge, but the intervention effect did not sustain nine months after hospital discharge. Longer hospital length of stay, and hospital admission due to dementia, mental disturbances such as delirium, or mental disorders IPA_Abstract_PDP_20230119_clean 2 such as schizophrenia significantly predicted nursing home admission three months and six months after hospital discharge.

The transitional care program could help reduce nursing home placement in people with dementia after hospital discharge. To sustain the intervention effect, more continual support after the intervention as well as family caregiver training would be required.

Although, attempts to apply virtual reality (VR) in mental healthcare are rapidly increasing, it is still unclear whether VR relaxation can reduce stress more than conventional biofeedback.

Participants consisted of 83 healthy adult volunteers with high stress, which was defined as a score of 20 or more on the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10). This study used an open, randomized, crossover design with baseline, stress, and relaxation phases. During the stress phase, participants experienced an intentionally generated shaking VR and serial-7 subtraction. For the relaxation phase, participants underwent a randomly assigned relaxation session on day 1 among VR relaxation and biofeedack, and the other type of relaxation session was applied on day 2. We compared the StateTrait Anxiety Inventory-X1 (STAI-X1), STAI-X2, the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and physiological parameters including heart rate variability (HRV) indexes in the stress and relaxation phases.

A total of 74 participants were included in the analyses. The median age of participants was 39 years, STAI-X1 was 47.27 (SD = 9.92), and NRS was 55.51 (SD = 24.48) at baseline. VR and biofeedback significantly decreased STAI-X1 and NRS from the stress phase to the relaxation phase, while the difference of effect between VR and biofeedback was not significant. However, there was a significant difference in electromyography, LF/HF ratio, LF total, and NN50 between VR relaxation and biofeedback

VR relaxation was effective in reducing subjectively reported stress in individuals with high stress.

Aggregation of phosphorylated tau (pTau) is a hallmark feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Novel assays now allow pTau to be measured in plasma. Elevated plasma pTau predicts subsequent development of AD, cortical atrophy and AD-related pathologies in the brain. We aimed to determine whether elevated pTau is associated with cognitive functioning in older adults prior to the development of dementia.

Independently living older adults (N = 48, mean age = 70.0 years; SD = 7.7; age range 55-88 years; 35.4% male) free of dementia or clinical stroke were recruited from the community and underwent blood draw and neuropsychological assessment. Plasma was assayed using the Quanterix Simoa® pTau-181 V2 Advantage Kit to quantify pTau-181 levels and APOE genotyping was conducted on the blood cell pellet fraction obtained from plasma separation. Global cognition was assessed using the Dementia Rating Scale-2 (DRS-2) and executive function was assessed using the Stroop, D-KEFS-2 Fluency, and Trails Making Test. Diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was determined based on overall neuropsychological performance. Participants were diagnosed as MCI if they scored >1 SD below norm-referenced values on 2 or more tests within a domain (language, executive, memory) or on 3 tests across domains.

Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a significant negative association between plasma pTau-181 levels and DRS-2 (B = -2.57, 95% CI (-3.68, -1.47), p <.001), Stroop Color-Word score (B = -2.64, 95% CI (-4.56, - 0.71), p = .009) and Fruits and Vegetables Fluency (B = -1.67, 95% CI (-2.84, -0.49), p = .007), adjusting for age, sex, education and APOE4 status. MCI diagnosis was determined for 43 participants, of which 8 (18.6%) met criteria. Logistic regression analysis revealed that pTau-181 levels are associated with increased odds of MCI diagnosis (OR = 2.18, 95% CI (1.01, 4.68), p = .046), after accounting for age, sex, education and APOE4 status.

Elevated plasma pTau-181 is associated with worse cognition, particularly executive function, and predicts MCI diagnosis in older adults. Higher plasma pTau-181 was associated with increased odds of MCI diagnosis. Detection of pTau-181 in plasma allows a novel, non-invasive method to detect burden of one form of AD pathology. These findings lend support to the use of plasma pTau-181 as a valuable marker in detecting even early cognitive changes prior to the development of AD. Additional longitudinal studies are warranted to explore the prognostic value of plasma pTau-181 over time.

The locus coeruleus (LC) innervates the cerebrovasculature and plays a crucial role in optimal regulation of cerebral blood flow. However, no human studies to date have examined links between these systems with widely available neuroimaging methods. We quantified associations between LC structural integrity and regional cortical perfusion and probed whether varying levels of plasma Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarkers (Aß42/40 ratio and ptau181) moderated these relationships.

64 dementia-free community-dwelling older adults (ages 55-87) recruited across two studies underwent structural and functional neuroimaging on the same MRI scanner. 3D-pCASL MRI measured regional cerebral blood flow in limbic and frontal cortical regions, while T1-FSE MRI quantified rostral LC-MRI contrast, a well-established proxy measure of LC structural integrity. A subset of participants underwent fasting blood draw to measure plasma AD biomarker concentrations (Aß42/40 ratio and ptau181). Multiple linear regression models examined associations between perfusion and LC integrity, with rostral LC-MRI contrast as predictor, regional CBF as outcome, and age and study as covariates. Moderation analyses included additional terms for plasma AD biomarker concentration and plasma x LC interaction.

Greater rostral LC-MRI contrast was linked to lower regional perfusion in limbic regions, such as the amygdala (ß = -0.25, p = 0.049) and entorhinal cortex (ß = -0.20, p = 0.042), but was linked to higher regional perfusion in frontal cortical regions, such as the lateral (ß = 0.28, p = 0.003) and medial (ß = 0.24, p = 0.05) orbitofrontal (OFC) cortices. Plasma amyloid levels moderated the relationship between rostral LC and amygdala CBF (Aß42/40 ratio x rostral LC interaction term ß = -0.31, p = 0.021), such that as plasma Aß42/40 ratio decreased (i.e., greater pathology), the strength of the negative relationship between rostral LC integrity and amygdala perfusion decreased. Plasma ptau181levels moderated the relationship between rostral LC and entorhinal CBF (ptau181 x rostral LC interaction term ß = 0.64, p = 0.001), such that as ptau181 increased (i.e., greater pathology), the strength of the negative relationship between rostral LC integrity and entorhinal perfusion decreased. For frontal cortical regions, ptau181 levels moderated the relationship between rostral LC and lateral OFC perfusion (ptau181 x rostral LC interaction term ß = -0.54, p = .004), as well as between rostral LC and medial OFC perfusion (ptau181 x rostral LC interaction term ß = -0.53, p = .005), such that as ptau181 increased (i.e., greater pathology), the strength of the positive relationship between rostral LC integrity and frontal perfusion decreased.

LC integrity is linked to regional cortical perfusion in non-demented older adults, and these relationships are moderated by plasma AD biomarker concentrations. Variable directionality of the associations between the LC and frontal versus limbic perfusion, as well as the differential moderating effects of plasma AD biomarkers, may signify a compensatory mechanism and a shifting pattern of hyperemia in the presence of aggregating AD pathology. Linking LC integrity and cerebrovascular regulation may represent an important understudied pathway of dementia risk and may help to bridge competing theories of dementia progression in preclinical AD studies.

Blood pressure variability (BPV), independent of traditionally targeted average blood pressure levels, is an emerging vascular risk factor for stroke, cerebrovascular disease, and dementia, possibly through links with vascular-endothelial injury. Recent evidence suggests visit-to-visit (e.g., over months, years) BPV is associated with cerebrovascular disease severity, but less is known about relationships with short-term (e.g., < 24 hours) fluctuations in blood pressure. Additionally, it is unclear how BPV may be related to angiogenic growth factors that play a role in cerebral arterial health.

We investigated relationships between short-term BPV, white matter hyperintensities on MRI, and levels of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a sample of community-dwelling older adults (n = 57, ages 55-88) without history of dementia or stroke. Blood pressure was collected continuously during a 5-minute resting period. BPV was calculated as variability independent of mean, a commonly used index of BPV uncorrelated with average blood pressure levels. Participants underwent T2-FLAIR MRI to determine severity of white matter lesion burden. Severity of lesions was classified as Fazekas scores (0-3). Participants also underwent venipuncture to determine levels of plasma VEGF. Ordinal logistic regression examined the association between BPV and Fazekas scores. Multiple linear regression explored relationships between BPV and VEGF. Models controlled for age, sex, and average blood pressure.

Elevated BPV was related to greater white matter lesion burden (i.e., Fazekas score) (systolic: OR = 1.17 [95% CI 1.01, 1.37]; p = .04; diastolic: OR = 2.47 [95% CI 1.09, 5.90]; p = .03) and increased levels of plasma VEGF (systolic: ß = .39 [95% CI .11, .67]; adjusted R2 = .16; p = .007; diastolic: ß = .48 [95% CI .18, .78]; adjusted R2 = .18; p = .003).

Findings suggest short-term BPV may be related to cerebrovascular disease burden and angiogenic growth factors relevant to cerebral arterial health, independent of average blood pressure. Understanding the role of BPV in cerebrovascular disease and vascular-endothelial health may help elucidate the increased risk for stroke and dementia associated with elevated BPV.

This study examined the relationship between changes in physical activity and their impact on exercise capacity and health-related quality of life over a 3-year span in patients with CHD.

We evaluated 99 young patients with CHD, aged 13–18 years at the outset. Physical activity, health-related quality of life, and exercise capacity were assessed via questionnaires and peak oxygen uptake measurements at baseline and after 3 years; changes in measures were estimated between the two time points and categorised into quartiles. Participants were stratified according to achieved (active) or not-achieved (inactive) recommended levels of physical activity (≥150 minutes/week) at both time points.

Despite increases in physical activity, exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life over 3 years, the changes were not statistically significant (all p > 0.05). However, a positive association was found between physical activity changes and exercise capacity (ß = 0.250, p = 0.040) and health-related quality of life improvements (ß = 0.380, p < 0.001). Those with the most pronounced physical activity increase showed notable exercise capacity (p < 0.001) and health-related quality of life increases (p < 0.001) compared with patients with the largest decline in physical activity. The active-inactive category demonstrated a notable decline in exercise capacity compared to the active-active group, while the inactive-active group showed health-related quality of life improvements.

Over 3 years, increased physical activity was consistently linked to increases in exercise capacity and health-related quality of life in patients with CHD, highlighting the potential of physical activity augmentation as an intervention strategy.

TDuring COVID-19 pandemic, it was noticed that it was students who were mostly affected by the changes that aroused because of the pandemic. The interesting part is whether students’ well-being could be associated with their fields of study as well as coping strategies.

In this study, we aimed to assess 1) the mental health of students from nine countries with a particular focus on depression, anxiety, and stress levels and their fields of study, 2) the major coping strategies of students after one year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We conducted an anonymous online cross-sectional survey on 12th April – 1st June 2021 that was distributed among the students from Poland, Mexico, Egypt, India, Pakistan, China, Vietnam, Philippines, and Bangladesh. To measure the emotional distress, we used the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and to identify the major coping strategies of students - the Brief-COPE.

We gathered 7219 responses from students studying five major studies: medical studies (N=2821), social sciences (N=1471), technical sciences (N=891), artistic/humanistic studies (N=1094), sciences (N=942). The greatest intensity of depression (M=18.29±13.83; moderate intensity), anxiety (M=13.13±11.37; moderate intensity ), and stress (M=17.86±12.94; mild intensity) was observed among sciences students. Medical students presented the lowest intensity of all three components - depression (M=13.31±12.45; mild intensity), anxiety (M=10.37±10.57; moderate intensity), and stress (M=13.65±11.94; mild intensity). Students of all fields primarily used acceptance and self-distraction as their coping mechanisms, while the least commonly used were self-blame, denial, and substance use. The group of coping mechanisms the most frequently used was ‘emotional focus’. Medical students statistically less often used avoidant coping strategies compared to other fields of study. Substance use was only one coping mechanism that did not statistically differ between students of different fields of study. Behavioral disengagement presented the highest correlation with depression (r=0.54), anxiety (r=0.48), and stress (r=0.47) while religion presented the lowest positive correlation with depression (r=0.07), anxiety (r=0.14), and stress (r=0.11).

1) The greatest intensity of depression, anxiety, and stress was observed among sciences students, while the lowest intensity of those components was found among students studying medicine.

2) Not using avoidant coping strategies might be associated with lower intensity of all DASS components among students.

3) Behavioral disengagement might be strongly associated with greater intensity of depression, anxiety, and stress among students.

4) There was no coping mechanism that provided the alleviation of emotional distress in all the fields of studies of students.

None Declared

Despite replicated cross-sectional evidence of aberrant levels of peripheral inflammatory markers in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD), there is limited literature on associations between inflammatory tone and response to sequential pharmacotherapies.

To assess associations between plasma levels of pro-inflammatory markers and treatment response to escitalopram and adjunctive aripiprazole in adults with MDD.

In a 16-week open-label clinical trial, 211 participants with MDD were treated with escitalopram 10– 20 mg daily for 8 weeks. Responders continued on escitalopram while non-responders received adjunctive aripiprazole 2–10 mg daily for 8 weeks. Plasma levels of pro-inflammatory markers – C-reactive protein, Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17, Interferon gamma (IFN)-Γ, Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α, and Chemokine C–C motif ligand-2 (CCL-2) - measured at baseline, and after 2, 8 and 16 weeks were included in logistic regression analyses to assess associations between inflammatory markers and treatment response.

Pre-treatment levels of IFN-Γ and CCL-2 were significantly higher in escitalopram non-responders compared to responders. Pre-treatment IFN-Γ and CCL-2 levels were significantly associated with a lower of odds of response to escitalopram at 8 weeks. Increases in CCL-2 levels from weeks 8 to 16 in escitalopram non-responders were significantly associated with higher odds of non-response to adjunctive aripiprazole at week 16.

Pre-treatment levels of IFN-Γ and CCL-2 were predictive of response to escitalopram. Increasing levels of these pro-inflammatory markers may predict non-response to adjunctive aripiprazole. These findings require validation in independent clinical populations.

None Declared

Growing evidence suggests that individuals with anxiety disorder have an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) but few studies have assessed this association independently of or jointly with depression.

We conducted a prospective cohort study using UK Biobank. Diagnoses of anxiety disorder, depression, and CVDs were ascertained through linked hospital admission and mortality data. Individual and joint associations between anxiety disorder and depression and CVD overall, as well as each of myocardial infarction, stroke/transient ischemic attack, and heart failure, were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard models and interaction tests.

Among the 431,973 participants, the risk of CVD was higher among those who had been diagnosed with anxiety disorder only (hazard ratio [HR] 1.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32–2.24), depression only (HR 2.07; 95% CI 1.79–2.40), and both conditions (HR 2.89; 95% CI 2.03–4.11) compared to those without these conditions, respectively. There was very little evidence of multiplicative or additive interaction. Results were similar for myocardial infarction, stroke/transient ischemic attack, and heart failure.

Having anxiety is associated with the same magnitude of increased risk of CVD among people who do not have depression and those who do. Anxiety disorder should be considered for inclusion in CVD risk prediction and stratification, in addition to depression.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health challenge negatively affecting victims’ health. Telomere length (TL), a marker for biological ageing, might be reflective of the mechanisms through which IPV leads to adverse health outcomes. The objective of the current study was to explore the association between IPV and leucocyte TL.

We conducted an analysis using a subset of the UK Biobank (N = 144 049). Physical, sexual and emotional IPV were reported by the participants. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. TL was assayed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We used multivariable linear regressions to test the associations between IPV and TL adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation, education, as well as symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in a sensitivity analysis.

After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, any IPV was associated with 0.02-s.d. shorter TL (β = −0.02, 95% CI −0.04 to −0.01). Of the three types of IPV, physical violence had a marginally stronger association (β = −0.05, 95% CI −0.07 to −0.02) than the other two types. The associations of numbers of IPV and TL showed a dose–response pattern whereby those who experienced all three types of IPV types had the shortest TL (β = −0.07, 95% CI −0.12 to −0.03), followed by those who experienced two types (β = −0.04, 95% CI −0.07 to −0.01). Following additional adjustment for symptoms of depression and PTSD, the associations were slightly attenuated but the general trend by number of IPVs remained.

Victims of IPV, particularly those exposed to multiple types of IPVs, had shorter TL indicative of accelerated biological ageing. Given that all three types of IPV are linked to TL, clinical practitioners need to comprehensively identify all types of IPV and those who received multiple types. Further studies should explore the association of violence with changes in TL over time, as well as to which extent biological ageing is a mechanistic factor.

There is evidence that child maltreatment is associated with shorter telomere length in early life.

This study aims to examine if child maltreatment is associated with telomere length in middle- and older-age adults.

This was a retrospective cohort study of 141 748 UK Biobank participants aged 37–73 years at recruitment. Leukocyte telomere length was measured with quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and log-transformed and scaled to have unit standard deviation. Child maltreatment was recalled by participants. Linear regression was used to analyse the association.

After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, participants with three or more types of maltreatment presented with the shortest telomere lengths (β = −0.05, 95% CI −0.07 to −0.03; P < 0.0001), followed by those with two types of maltreatment (β = −0.02, 95% CI −0.04 to 0.00; P = 0.02), referent to those who had none. When adjusted for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, the telomere lengths of participants with three or more types of maltreatment were still shorter (β = −0.04, 95% CI −0.07 to −0.02; P = 0.0008). The telomere lengths of those with one type of maltreatment were not significantly different from those who had none. When mutually adjusted, physical abuse (β = −0.05, 95% CI −0.07 to −0.03; P < 0.0001) and sexual abuse (β = −0.02, 95% CI −0.04 to 0.00; P = 0.02) were independently associated with shorter telomere length.

Our findings showed that child maltreatment is associated with shorter telomere length in middle- and older-aged adults, independent of sociodemographic and mental health factors.