Sex Differences in the Associations among Early Life Adversity, Inflammation, and Cognition

Early life adversity (ELA) has long been recognized to negatively impact a variety of health outcomes, with increasingly recognized long-term implications for neurocognitive function. ELA may affect the brain through multiple mechanisms, including chronic inflammation. One potential moderator of the pathway from ELA to neuroinflammation to cognitive dysfunction is sex. ELA may leave females potentially even more vulnerable to cognitive impairment in later life. This review discusses the influence of ELA on cognitive function across much of the lifespan, how inflammation is implicated in this process, and the current state of knowledge regarding sex differences in these relationships. We conclude with a discussion of unanswered questions and suggestions for future research, including the incorporation of genetic data.