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Current Alzheimer Research

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ISSN (Print): 1567-2050
ISSN (Online): 1875-5828

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Research Article

Prenatal Exposure to the 1944-45 Dutch Famine and Risk for Dementia up to Age 75: An Analysis of Primary Care Data

Author(s): Aline Marileen Wiegersma*, Amber Boots, Emma F. van Bussel, Birgit I. Lissenberg-Witte, Mark M.J. Nielen, Tessa J. Roseboom and Susanne R. de Rooij

Volume 21, Issue 2, 2024

Published on: 03 May, 2024

Page: [101 - 108] Pages: 8

DOI: 10.2174/0115672050290699240422050036

Price: $65

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Abstract

Background: A poor prenatal environment adversely affects brain development. Studies investigating long-term consequences of prenatal exposure to the 1944-45 Dutch famine have shown that those exposed to famine in early gestation had poorer selective attention, smaller brain volumes, poorer brain perfusion, older appearing brains, and increased reporting of cognitive problems, all indicative of increased dementia risk.

Objective: In the current population-based study, we investigated whether dementia incidence up to age 75 was higher among individuals who had been prenatally exposed to famine.

Methods: We included men (n=6,714) and women (n=7,051) from the Nivel Primary Care Database who had been born in seven cities affected by the Dutch famine. We used Cox regression to compare dementia incidence among individuals exposed to famine during late (1,231), mid (1,083), or early gestation (601) with those unexposed (born before or conceived after the famine).

Results: We did not observe differences in dementia incidence for those exposed to famine in mid or early gestation compared to those unexposed. Men and women exposed to famine in late gestation had significantly lower dementia rates compared to unexposed individuals (HR 0.52 (95%CI 0.30-0.89)). Sex-specific analyses showed a lower dementia rate in women exposed to famine in late gestation (HR 0.39 (95%CI 0.17-0.86)) but not in men (HR 0.68 (95%CI 0.33-1.41)).

Conclusion: Although prenatal exposure to the Dutch famine has previously been associated with measures of accelerated brain aging, the present population-based study did not show increased dementia incidence up to age 75 in those exposed to famine during gestation.

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