Aging
Associations Between Birthweight and Preterm Birth and the Risk of Alzheimer’s in Women from the Women’s Health Initiative Emily A. Nyhan* Emily Nyhan Christian Daniele Rachel E. Wacks Cassandra N. Spracklen Ramon Cassanova Sabiha Nasrin Leslie V. Farland Bernhard Haring Su Yon Jung Longjian Liu JoAnn E. Manson Nazmus Saquib Jean Wactawski-Wende Robert B. Wallace Brian W. Whitcomb
ABSTRACT
Associations Between Birthweight and Preterm Birth and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease in Women from the Women’s Health Initiative
Emily A. Nyhan, B.S., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
M.S., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
Directed by: Dr. Cassandra N. Spracklen
Alzheimer’s Disease is known as the most common type of dementia, currently affecting 5.8 million Americans. Dementia is an increasingly prevalent brain disease known for the loss of cognitive functioning and behavioral abilities that results in the inability to complete basic life tasks. The Developmental Origins of Adult Disease (DOAD) hypothesis states that exposures in utero and in early life can increase the risk of developing chronic disease decades later. The study aimed to investigate the potential associations between birthweight, preterm birth status, and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in women from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI). The WHI is a large prospective cohort study, made up of women from various demographic backgrounds. At baseline, women self-reported their birthweight and preterm birth category (<6lbs., 6-7lbs 15 oz., 8-9lbs 15 oz., or ≥10 lbs.; ≥4 weeks premature or full term). Data on incident Alzheimer’s Disease were obtained through self-administered questionnaires during the Main and Extension phases of the study, as well as from death certificate data. During the follow-up periods, participants were asked to report if a doctor had ever told them they had “moderate or severe memory problems” and/or “Dementia or Alzheimer’s” (yes/no). Cox-proportional hazards regression models were used to generate hazards ratios.
After adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors, we found no association between low or high birthweights or preterm birth and Alzheimer’s disease. Individuals reportedly born weighing (8-9 lbs. 15 oz.) had a slight protective factor of developing Alzheimer’s Disease. Further research in the area is warranted to confirm our findings.