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Whether childhood adversity is associated with stroke in older people is understudied. These investigators addressed the question in a longitudinal neuropathologic study of 1040 nondemented individuals (age, ≥55) who were examined annually (mean follow-up, 3.5 years) and gave permission for autopsy.
Childhood adversity before age 18 was assessed with a self-report scale that covered emotional neglect, parental intimidation or violence, family turmoil, and financial need. Psychiatric evaluations were not conducted. Of the 257 participants who died, the brains of 192 consecutive cases (mean age, 88; 68% female) were autopsied and examined for gross and microscopic cortical and subcortical infarcts in six regions of one hemisphere.
Cerebral infa…