title: Early life risk factors for cerebrovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) causes subclinical brain vascular lesions detected using neuroimaging and childhood factors may increase later CVD risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and EMBASE, and meta-analyzed all available evidence on childhood (premorbid) IQ, socioeconomic status (SES), education, and subclinical CVD in later life. Overall odds ratios (OR), mean difference or correlation, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random effects methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 30 relevant studies (n = 22,890). Lower childhood IQ and lower childhood SES were associated with more white matter hyperintensities (WMH) (IQ: n = 1,512,r= -0.07, 95% CI -0.12 to -0.02,p= 0.007; SES: n = 243, deep WMHr= -0.18, periventricular WMHr= -0.146). Fewer years of education were associated with several CVD markers (n = 15,439, OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.31,p= 0.003). No studies assessed early life factors combined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Childhood IQ, SES, and education are associated with increased risk of CVD on neuroimaging in later life. Further studies are required to provide further evidence and thereby inform policy.
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.V.B., C.A.M., V.C., J.M.W.), Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (C.A.M., V.C., S.D.S., J.M.W.), and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Clinical and Surgical Sciences (S.D.S.), University of Edinburgh; and Scottish Imaging Network (V.C., S.D.S., J.M.W.), A Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE), UK.
authors.forename: Ellen V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Backhouse
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.V.B., C.A.M., V.C., J.M.W.), Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (C.A.M., V.C., S.D.S., J.M.W.), and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Clinical and Surgical Sciences (S.D.S.), University of Edinburgh; and Scottish Imaging Network (V.C., S.D.S., J.M.W.), A Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE), UK.
authors.forename: Caroline A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: McHutchison
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.V.B., C.A.M., V.C., J.M.W.), Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (C.A.M., V.C., S.D.S., J.M.W.), and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Clinical and Surgical Sciences (S.D.S.), University of Edinburgh; and Scottish Imaging Network (V.C., S.D.S., J.M.W.), A Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE), UK.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cvoro
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.V.B., C.A.M., V.C., J.M.W.), Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (C.A.M., V.C., S.D.S., J.M.W.), and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Clinical and Surgical Sciences (S.D.S.), University of Edinburgh; and Scottish Imaging Network (V.C., S.D.S., J.M.W.), A Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE), UK.
authors.forename: Susan D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Shenkin
authors.affiliation: From the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences (E.V.B., C.A.M., V.C., J.M.W.), Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (C.A.M., V.C., S.D.S., J.M.W.), and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Clinical and Surgical Sciences (S.D.S.), University of Edinburgh; and Scottish Imaging Network (V.C., S.D.S., J.M.W.), A Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE), UK. joanna.wardlaw@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Joanna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wardlaw
mesh_terms: D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D059906:Neuroimaging; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors