TY - JOUR T1 - Childhood reading problems and cognitive ageing across mid to later life JF - Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health JO - J Epidemiol Community Health DO - 10.1136/jech-2020-215735 SP - jech-2020-215735 AU - Amber John AU - Josh Stott AU - Marcus Richards Y1 - 2021/06/29 UR - http://jech.bmj.com/content/early/2021/06/28/jech-2020-215735.abstract N2 - Background Little research has investigated long-term associations of childhood reading with cognitive ageing. The aim of this study was to test longitudinal associations between childhood reading problems and cognitive function from mid-adulthood (age 43) to early old age (age 69), and whether associations were mediated by education.Methods Data were from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development, a prospective population-based birth cohort. Reading problems were measured at age 11 using a reading test. Verbal memory and processing speed were measured at ages 43, 53, 60–64 and 69 and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE) was administered at age 69. Linear mixed models and path analyses were used to test: (1) associations between reading problems and verbal memory and processing speed trajectories; (2) associations between reading problems and ACE-III scores; (3) whether associations were mediated by education.Results Reading problems were associated with poorer verbal memory at intercept but not rate of decline (N=1726), and were not associated with processing speed intercept or decline (N=1730). There were higher rates of scores below ACE-III clinical thresholds (<82 and <88) in people with reading problems compared with those without. Reading problems were associated with poorer total ACE-III scores and all domain scores at age 69 (N=1699). Associations were partly mediated by education.Conclusion Reading problems in childhood were associated with poorer cognitive function in early old age, and associations were partly mediated by education.Data are available upon reasonable request. Data are available upon application to MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL. ER -