106EARLY LIFE RISK FACTORS FOR SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY IN LATER LIFE: ANALYSIS OF 4 COHORT STUDIES

Abstract

Introduction: Depression and anxiety are common at older ages and often appear as comorbid disorders. Common risk factors include disability, cognitive impairment and poor health however factors from early in life including prenatal life may also be important. Few studies have examined early life factors and symptoms of depression and anxiety in later life. Methods: We analysed data from community dwelling participants from 4 cohort studies: STRADL (n = 280, mean age 62), the Dutch Famine Birth Cohort (n = 151, mean age 68), the Lothian Birth cohort 1936 (LBC 1936, n = 866, mean age 72) and the Simpson cohort (n = 130, mean age 78). Symptoms of depression and anxiety were measured using the subscales of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) and the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomology (QIDS-16). Early life factors included famine exposure (Dutch Famine Birth Cohort only), birth weight, childhood IQ, education (duration/attainment) and childhood socioeconomic status (parental occupation: manual/non manual). Data were adjusted for risk factors, analysed separately and then meta-analysed. Results: In the Dutch Famine Birth cohort exposure to famine during gestation was associated with higher symptoms of depression (B = 0.36, p = 0.01) and anxiety (B = 0.30, p = 0.49). Increasing childhood IQ was associated with decreased symptoms of anxiety (B = -0.16, p = 0.02). Having no qualifications was associated with increased symptoms of depression (B = 0.08, p = 0.04) and anxiety (B = 0.08, p = 0.02). Manual parental occupation was associated with increased depressive symptoms (B = 0.02, p = 0.03). Conclusion: Lower childhood IQ, less education and more deprived childhood socioeconomic status are associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety in later life independent of common risk factors. These findings contribute to the understanding of how early life factors contribute to mental health in later life and could inform mental health policy and interventions to target those most at risk.