ArticlePloS one2023
Biological expressions of early life trauma in the immune system of older adults.
Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Peripheral immune function and Alzheimer's disease: a living systematic review and critical appraisal.Molecular psychiatry · 2024Pooled it
- Exploration of Novel Biomarkers Through a Precision Medicine Approach Using Multi-Omics and Brain Organoids in Patients With Atypical Depression and Psychotic Symptoms.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Article
- Compositional analysis of lymphocytes and their relationship with health outcomes: findings from the health and retirement study.Immunity & ageing : I & A · 2025Article
- Alcohol consumption and childhood trauma impact serum immunoglobulin levels in patients with alcohol use disorder.Alcohol, clinical & experimental research · 2025Article
- The prevalence of lifetime trauma and association with physical and psychosocial health among adults at the end of life.Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · 2025Article
- Parental influence on brown trout offspring immune cell composition: An infection study with Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae.PloS one · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPoor immune function is associated with increased risk for a number of age-related diseases, however, little is known about the impact of early life trauma on immune function in late-life.
methodsUsing nationally representative data from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 5,823), we examined the association between experiencing parental/caregiver death or separation before age 16 and four indicators of immune function in late-life: C-reactive Protein (CRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor (sTNFR), and Immunoglobulin G (IgG) response to cytomegalovirus (CMV). We also examined racial/ethnic differences.
findingsIndividuals that identified as racial/ethnic minorities were more likely to experience parental/caregiver loss and parental separation in early life compared to Non-Hispanic Whites, and had poorer immune function in late-life. We found consistent associations between experiencing parental/caregiver loss and separation and poor immune function measured by CMV IgG levels and IL-6 across all racial/ethnic subgroups. For example, among Non-Hispanic Blacks, those that experienced parental/caregiver death before age 16 had a 26% increase in CMV IgG antibodies in late-life (β = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.17, 1.34) compared to a 3% increase in CMV antibodies among Non-Hispanic Whites (β = 1.03; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.07) controlling for age, gender, and parental education.
interpretationOur results suggest a durable association between experiencing early life trauma and immune health in late-life, and that structural forces may shape the ways in which these relationships unfold over the life course.
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