Early Secure Attachment as a Protective Factor Against Later Cognitive Decline and Dementia

Walsh, Emilie; Blake, Yvonne; Donati, Alessia; Stoop, Ron; von Gunten, Armin

doi:10.3389/fnagi.2019.00161

REVIEW article

Front. Aging Neurosci., 04 July 2019

Sec. Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

Volume 11 - 2019 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2019.00161

This article is part of the Research Topic Preclinical Biomarkers and Functional Compensation in Brain Aging View all 11 articles

Early Secure Attachment as a Protective Factor Against Later Cognitive Decline and Dementia

$\nEmilie Walsh&#x;$ Emilie Walsh¹^†

Yvonne Blake²^†

Alessia Donati¹^†

Ron Stoop²

Armin von Gunten¹^*

¹Service of Old Age Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
²Center for Psychiatric Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland

The etiology of neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia is complex and incompletely understood. Interest in a developmental perspective to these pathologies is gaining momentum. An early supportive social environment seems to have important implications for social, affective and cognitive abilities across the lifespan. Attachment theory may help to explain the link between these early experiences and later outcomes. This theory considers early interactions between an infant and its caregiver to be crucial to shaping social behavior and emotion regulation strategies throughout adult life. Furthermore, research has demonstrated that such early attachment experiences can, potentially through epigenetic mechanisms, have profound neurobiological and cognitive consequences. Here we discuss how early attachment might influence the development of affective, cognitive, and neurobiological resources that could protect against cognitive decline and dementia. We argue that social relations, both early and late in life, are vital to ensuring cognitive and neurobiological health. The concepts of brain and cognitive reserve are crucial to understanding how environmental factors may impact cognitive decline. We examine the role that attachment might play in fostering brain and cognitive reserve in old age. Finally, we put forward the concept of affective reserve, to more directly frame the socio-affective consequences of early attachment as protectors against cognitive decline. We thereby aim to highlight that, in the study of aging, cognitive decline and dementia, it is crucial to consider the role of affective and social factors such as attachment.

Introduction

As the prevalence of dementia continues to increase, the fear of cognitive decline is becoming a central preoccupation in the elderly population. Multiple genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of dementia, and a great deal of scientific interest is currently focused on identifying relevant risk and protective factors. Various types of dementia exist, including Alzheimer's Disease, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, and Frontotemporal Dementia. Additionally, Mild Cognitive Impairment is used to describe an intermediate state between healthy aging and dementia. Mild Cognitive Impairment is characterized by cognitive deficits and related dysfunction not severe enough to be diagnosed as dementia, though the presentation can vary considerably among individuals (Winblad et al., 2004). Even in healthy aging, it is normal to observe some decline in several but not all cognitive domains. Whereas working memory, episodic memory, processing speed, and some aspects of short-term memory are typically impacted, other abilities such as general language or basic conceptual functions tend to be spared.

In the search for protective factors against cognitive decline and dementia, the potential role of early attachment has been largely overlooked. Many studies have demonstrated that a supportive social environment in old age can protect against the progress of cognitive decline (Bennett et al., 2006; Gow et al., 2007). However, early social support may also have long lasting psychosocial, cognitive and neurobiological consequences. Furthermore, a safe early social environment could offer protection against cognitive decline through its effects on the establishment of particular emotions regulation strategies.

Early attachment refers to the quality of the interaction between the child and the primary caregiver. By repetition, the child progressively integrates these interactions into mental representations, which allow for the establishment of long-term attachment patterns. These patterns will then determine social behavior and emotional regulation strategies throughout adult life, and will be particularly useful in times of stress as they may help the individual to regain a feeling of comfort and well-being (Bretherton and Munholland, 1999; Cassidy, 2000; Waters and Waters, 2006). Prompted by multiple experiences of loss, separation, and vulnerability associated with aging, these established attachment patterns may pervade a person's perceptions, feelings and attitudes, both in healthy aging and in the presence of cognitive disorders (Bradley and Cafferty, 2001; Perren et al., 2007). Therefore, we believe that it is highly important to study attachment patterns in this particular population.

We will begin this review by introducing the concept of attachment and it's impact on an individual's social relations. We will then discuss how quality social relations may protect against cognitive decline. Next, we will examine how attachment might affect cognitive and neurobiological development of various brain structures and systems and the consequences this may have for later cognitive decline, as a vast literature has shown that some early environmental factors can significantly modulate and drive the interplay of numerous processes involved in brain maturation (Gluckman et al., 2008; Brummelte, 2017). Finally, we will discuss how early attachment might contribute to brain and cognitive reserve, which play a role in protecting against cognitive decline. We will consider evidence from different developmental fields of study including epigenetics, neurobiology and psychology.

Attachment, Social Factors, Cognitive Decline, and Dementia

“Man is by nature a social animal” Aristotle, Ethique à Nicomaque.

For many species, living in a group ensures a sustained food supply, protection against predators, reproduction and the opportunity to learn survival skills. Mammalian infants in particular are highly dependent on social interactions for their day-to-day needs. In humans, deprivation and neglect can have devastating and long-lasting consequences on children's intellectual and emotional development. One example of this is hospitalism syndrome, which is a form of developmental stunting first described by Spitz (1945). This syndrome refers to the severe physical and psychological retardation observed in children separated from their mothers for several months during their first year of life. Spitz (1947) observed that this deprivation of affection caused a progressive deterioration of the personality that eventually led, in more than one third of chronically hospitalized children, to marasmus and death by the end of the second year. This evidence demonstrates that social contact is fundamentally necessary to life itself and led Bowlby, who is considered the father of attachment theory, to assume that human beings have an innate need of interpersonal relations and social support (Bowlby, 1988).

Weak social ties and the experience of early maltreatment may affect both physical (Uchino, 2006; Reblin and Uchino, 2008) and mental health (Antonucci, 2001) across the lifespan. Studies in the elderly population have shown associations between early maltreatment or absent or weak social relations, both early and current, and higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases (Orth-Gomér et al., 1993; Rosengren et al., 2004; Burg et al., 2005), worse prognosis in breast cancer (Kroenke et al., 2006, 2013, 2017), increased risk of mortality (Seeman et al., 1993; Seeman, 2000; Santini et al., 2015; Kauppi et al., 2017), late-life depression and suicide risk (Dennis et al., 2005; Cacioppo et al., 2006; Fiori et al., 2006; Glass et al., 2006; Jardim et al., 2018, 2019; Novelo et al., 2018). Moreover, some studies suggest that, for elderly individuals, poverty or lack of social relations or integration may favor cognitive decline and increase the risk of developing dementias such as Alzheimer's disease (Tilvis et al., 2004; Bennett et al., 2006; Gow et al., 2007; James et al., 2011).

As early interactions with the caregiver may be the basis through which a person integrates and forges their social abilities, attachment theory is a valuable candidate to explain to which degree a person feels driven to seek proximity with others in various contexts. Furthermore, attachment theory could also predict the degree to which an individual is able to benefit from this social proximity, which could subsequently affect the preservation (or deterioration) of their cognitive functioning.

Attachment and Social Functioning

Based on the results of ethological studies, Bowlby (1969) argues that a child's attachment behaviors toward their caregiver are of vital necessity. Ainsworth (1979), Bowlby (1982) and subsequent authors have conceptualized attachment as a behavioral system. However, more recent evidence suggests that attachment is unlikely to rely on the functioning of any single identifiable neurological system, but probably results from the interplay of various social and motivational systems in the brain (Panksepp, 1998). Thus, throughout this review we will use the term “attachment system” to refer to behaviors, representations and psychological processes related to attachment. To avoid any confusion, we also define the term “behavior” as the way in which one acts or conducts themselves, especially toward others.

Bowlby assumes that attachment behaviors are regulated by an innate motivational system whose main function is to establish a physical proximity with the attachment figure in case of real or perceived danger, or anxiety-provoking situations in general. Factors that trigger this need for safety can be either environmental (such as an unfamiliar stimulus or the rapid and threatening approach of an object) or directly related to the child's internal state (such as tiredness, hunger or illness) (Bowlby, 1969). Children adopt certain behaviors and signals to alert their caregivers to their needs. These signals, that include, among others, crying or calling the caregiver, essentially reflect the search for proximity with the attachment figure during the occurrence of stressful situations. These attempts to achieve proximity are called “primary strategies.” The manner in which those close to the child respond to the child's behavior will guide the development of attachment styles; which will in turn form the basis for establishing effective internal models that will govern the feelings, expectations, and behavior of the individual in their relationships. Once the child's needs have been satisfied and eased, it resumes its activities (Ainsworth et al., 1978).

Since birth, the child begins to develop a repertoire of attachment behaviors that aim to catch or keep the attention of their caregiver. Depending on the effectiveness of these primary strategies the child will be more or less inclined to adapt their behavior and develop “secondary strategies.” Secondary strategies include, on the one hand, avoidance of closeness and, on the other hand, energetic or exaggerated attempts to seek proximity or support. However, if the caregiver meets the child's needs in response to the primary strategies, the proximity search may cease as its goal has been achieved and the child can relax. If this positive and reassuring interaction consistently occurs throughout the early years of development, the child should become “securely attached.” However, proximity-seeking behavior is not triggered exclusively by stressful or unpleasant states. For example, Trevarthen et al. (2006) emphasize the child's natural inclination for joyful social engagement, such as playing. Such positive interactions also contribute to the building and strengthening of secure attachment ties.

In the case of predominantly inconsistent or unavailable responses from the caregiver, the child will increasingly tend to adopt secondary strategies (Main, 1990). These strategies are constructed based on the child's assessment of whether reconciliation with the caretaker is possible, and how best to maintain a sustainable relationship with them. The use of secondary strategies reflects the development of “insecure attachment”. Insecure attachment behavior may be triggered not only through the unavailability of the caregiver in times of need, but also in the case of inappropriate responses from them (Trevarthen et al., 2006).

As mentioned, secondary strategies can take two different forms. If the child is faced with an unavailable caregiver, they inhibit their primary strategies and adopt an avoidant attitude. A child who predominantly demonstrates secondary strategies of this type will be referred to as “avoidantly attached.” If, on the contrary, access to the inconsistent caregiver seems possible, the child will respond by exaggerating and distorting attachment behaviors, resulting in crying and clinging. A child who predominantly adopts secondary strategies of this type will be referred to as “anxiously attached”. Due to the difficulty of classifying all children into the three categories of attachment behavior discussed thus far, “disorganized” attachment style has been proposed as a fourth category (Main and Solomon, 1986). This type of insecure attachment is characterized by contradictory responses, oscillating between exaggerated and inhibited attachment behaviors.

The repetition of secure or insecure strategies will gradually be internalized and generate an interpersonal expectation of the attachment figure's availability toward the self and the availability of the self toward others. These internalized expectations, called Internal Working Models (IWMs), will generalize through various relationships and contribute to the establishment of internal regulation mechanisms. IWMs shape the representation one has of oneself and others, guiding behaviors, thoughts and coping strategies to be adopted in social interactions or in particularly stressful times (Main et al., 1985; Bretherton and Munholland, 1999; Cassidy, 2000). Thus, the attachment style defines an individual's emotion regulation abilities, which will in turn modulate their internal state and subsequent behaviors.

Despite their prototypical aspect (Sroufe, 1983; Collins and Read, 1994) and their influence on adult relationships (Carver, 1997; Miljkovitch and Cohin, 2007; Miljkovitch, 2009), IWM are not frozen representations. They can be modified through various life experiences and an individual's panel of behavioral or emotional responses can be enlarged (Vaughn et al., 1979; Bretherton, 1995). Nevertheless, some of the initial structure remains, and the first attachment experiences continue to steer individuals throughout adulthood (Waters et al., 2000; Carlson and Egeland, 2004; Grossmann et al., 2005; Groh et al., 2014).

More recent work by Panksepp (1998) highlights the neuro-affective mechanisms that may underlie the activation of attachment strategies. According to Panksepp, mammals are equipped with seven distinct but integrated neuro-emotional systems, i.e., FEAR, RAGE, PANIC/GRIEF, PLAY, SEEKING, LUST, and CARE. The SEEKING system has no direct object in the sense that it is considered to be a generalized motivational system, which “provides the arousal and energy that activates our interest in the world around us” and, as such, it drives the other six systems (Solms and Turnball, 2002, p. 115). Panksepp's theory assumes that social attachment is built on evolutionarily more ancient systems. For example, ancient pain mechanisms would underlie feelings of separation distress. Thus, various neuro-emotional systems described by Panksepp, such as the PANIC, CARE, and PLAY systems, are likely to be involved in the construction of attachment bonds.

Panksepp considers attachment bonds to be intrinsically related to the neural circuits of distress activated by separation, meaning that PANIC circuits are important for the development of social interactions. The distress triggered by real or felt separation will activate the PANIC system, which will induce the need to seek proximity and social support. In this context, to restore the homeostatic balance, the SEEKING system will promote specific behaviors, including vocalizations, in order to favor social reunion. The behaviors or signals from a distressed child will in turn activate the parent's PANIC circuits, which will then activate the CARE system and lead the parent to provide protection and reassurance to their infant. However, the quality of the parent's CARE system depends on the caring experiences they have themselves gone through and internalized during their own childhood. Therefore, if the parent has experienced significant trauma, a state of anxiety or affective instability (disturbance) may remain, which will in turn influence the way in which the parent perceives their child's needs and responds to them. As previously discussed, the quality of the parent's response to their child will play a crucial role in shaping the child's attachment style (Panksepp, 1998).

The PLAY system is of particular importance as an early pro-social system due to the high levels of positive affect it evokes and its role in the refinement of social interactions (both by promoting the integration of social rules and by building empathy and trust) (Burgdorf et al., 2010; Watt, 2017). The first manifestation of social play arises as early as 2 months of age in humans. Through brief visual and auditory exchanges, the child and the primary caregiver experience their first social interactions by adjusting their attention and expressions based on one another's responses (Schore, 2001). Through these interactive situations and the joyful, pleasant feeling the child experiences, they progressively internalize the possibility of shared attention and practice adjusting their social behaviors and responses to one another (Kestly, 2014). In the section Influence of Early Attachment on Neurobiological and Cognitive Development, we will briefly examine the neurobiological links between separation distress, PLAY and attachment, in which neuropeptides such as endogenous opioids, oxytocin, vasopressin and prolactin are likely to play a critical role (Panksepp et al., 1997; Panksepp, 1998).

Effects of Social Relations on Cognitive Decline

Social context later in life is important in protecting against cognitive decline. Early attachment may be influential in determining both the availability of social support later in life as well as the degree to which an individual is able to benefit from such support. By maintaining social activities, a person will be engaged in stimulating and complex interactions, which require a variety of cognitive skills. Consequently, social interactions may in turn slow cognitive decline and the development of dementia (Seeman et al., 2001; Wang et al., 2002; Fratiglioni et al., 2004; Beland et al., 2005; Amieva et al., 2010; Qiu et al., 2010; Dickinson et al., 2011; Ellwardt et al., 2013). The influence of such psychosocial factors on cognitive abilities could be due to the internal feeling of comfort conveyed by social support, which may help to lower the level of stress and improve the capacity to face difficult life events (Wilson et al., 2011). Stress, anxiety, and/or depression may therefore induce or favor cognitive decline and the risk of developing later dementia (Beaudreau and O'Hara, 2008; Dotson et al., 2010; Gulpers et al., 2016; Freire et al., 2017).

Seeking proximity and support is a common coping strategy in the case of fear or stress (Zeidner and Endler, 1996; Mikulincer et al., 2003). Attachment style not only influences an individual's evaluation of a threat and moderates their need for social support, but it also shapes the strategies and effort they employ to seek the proximity needed to return to a feeling of well-being (Mikulincer and Florian, 1998; Collins and Feeney, 2000). For instance, as opposed to insecurely attached individuals, securely attached individuals tend to naturally and effectively seek proximity and rely on social support when facing a stressor (Larose and Bernier, 2001; Mikulincer and Florian, 2003), and experience positive effects and reduced stress when recalling the memories of a partner or an available attachment figure (McGowan, 2002; Rowe and Carnelley, 2003). In line with attachment theory, Siedlecki et al. (2014) assume that the feeling of contentment brought by satisfying relationships depends on the concrete sense of having people to turn to in case of need, but also on the expectation that relying on someone else is comforting.

Social relationships can be appraised from an objective or subjective point of view. For example, relational support can be objectively assessed by considering the size of the network, the frequency of contacts and the types of social ties available (marital, family, friends, and caretakers). From this perspective, different studies have revealed that living alone with no or few personal ties (Crooks et al., 2008) as well as being single or widowed (Helmer et al., 1999; Håkansson et al., 2009; Feng et al., 2014; Sundström et al., 2016) increases the risk of cognitive decline and dementia relative to people living with their spouse or partner. Attachment security has also been related to a larger social network in elderly individuals (Fiori et al., 2011).

Though some studies have found that a greater social network significantly reduces the risk of developing dementia (Tilvis et al., 2004; Wilson et al., 2007; Crooks et al., 2008), Amieva et al. (2010) showed that the quality of support impacts the occurrence of later dementia more than its quantity. This suggests that the subjective aspect of social support, i.e., the manner in which a person perceives the quality of the support they receive, is paramount. To distinguish the influence of objective and subjective social support on the onset of later dementia, Amieva et al. (2010) examined a variety of social network characteristics. They investigated six different aspects, namely marital status, number of ties, nature of the social network, satisfaction with network interactions, perception of being understood/misunderstood and reciprocity in the relationship. The results revealed that perceived social support variables had a more significant effect on the risk of developing later dementia than quantitative social support variables. Experiencing satisfaction in relationships reduced the risk of later developing dementia by 23% and by 55% when the participants reported that they received more support than they gave.

Perception of social support is likely to vary according to attachment style. Securely attached individuals demonstrate more optimistic life appraisal (Mikulincer and Florian, 1995; Berant et al., 2001; Shorey et al., 2003), more positive representations of others (Collins and Read, 1990; Simpson, 1990; Baldwin et al., 1996), more positive self-esteem and self-worth (Bartholomew and Horowitz, 1991; Brennan and Morris, 1997; Mikulincer et al., 2004), and more effective coping strategies (Cassidy, 1994; Simpson et al., 1996; Gross and John, 2003). Taken together, these factors may favor the maintenance of cognitive and affective availability, which may sustain an individual's capacity to invest themselves in daily life activities and in their social network. This investment will in turn protect against cognitive decline.

Individuals with insecure attachment profiles will be less able to access fruitful and supportive relationships (Simpson and Rholes, 2017). Insecure attachment has been connected to greater levels of depression, anxiety, psychosomatic illness and feeling of loneliness (Hazan and Shaver, 1990; Carnelley et al., 1994). Avoidant attachment is mainly characterized by self-reliance, as the other is perceived as dismissive and non-supportive. In order to maintain self-reliance, an avoidant individual will suppress painful memories and feelings associated with relationships from consciousness. This will help them maintain a low level of stress by avoiding threatening emotions, but this will also deprive the person from the emotional benefits another person can provide in times of stress. Therefore, when facing a threatening or emotional situation, an avoidant person will inhibit proximity needs and divert his attention toward other interests or goals (Mikulincer et al., 2003; Mikulincer and Shaver, 2007).

Conversely, an anxious attachment style is characterized by self-defeating representations and a pattern of anxiety-driven behaviors accompanied by pessimistic thoughts of others, considered as unable to provide sufficient support (Collins and Read, 1994). Anxious people tend to increase their thoughts and feelings of despair and unworthiness by focusing their attention on negative and painful aspects of themselves, their relationships, or situations (Kobak et al., 1993). Therefore, they display increased and possibly exaggerated attention and support-seeking behaviors (Cassidy and Berlin, 1994). These individuals rarely feel sufficiently reassured and an enduring feeling of dissatisfaction in their social relations remains.

Some studies have focused on the feeling of loneliness to explain the link between perceived social support and the occurrence of dementia. Loneliness is a subjective feeling of social isolation. It describes the distress a person experiences when their social relationships are perceived as unsatisfactory both in terms of quantity and especially quality. Consequently, some people may feel lonely even though they are socially engaged (Ayalon, 2016). Although social isolation and a lack of social engagement have been shown to increase the risk of cognitive decline and dementia (Bassuk et al., 1999; Helmer et al., 1999; Wang et al., 2002), loneliness appears to have even stronger effects on the emergence of these pathologies (Wilson et al., 2007; Holwerda et al., 2014). Thus, people who experience loneliness are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease as those who do not feel lonely (Wilson et al., 2007). These results are consistent with those of Holwerda et al. (2014), who showed that the perceived absence of social relations and support were independently related to increased risk of cognitive decline over a 3-year follow-up. Furthermore, the effect of perceived social isolation on subsequent cognitive decline was significantly stronger than the effect of objective social isolation. Two longitudinal studies also showed that loneliness contributes to increased cognitive decline over periods of 10 and 4 years, respectively (Tilvis et al., 2004; Shankar et al., 2013).

Recent studies on young adults as well as elderly individuals also showed that insecurely attached people were more prone to experiencing loneliness than securely attached people, who express more satisfaction about the support they perceive and receive (Bernardon et al., 2011; Akdogan, 2017; Spence et al., 2018). Although a relationship between loneliness and insecure attachment has been demonstrated, the specific implications for anxious and avoidant attachment styles remain unclear. Loneliness and depression both contributed to worsening elderly people's cognitive abilities over the course of a 12-year longitudinal study (Donovan et al., 2017). The authors suppose that the feeling of loneliness may contribute to a state of emotional distress, which in turn may promote the emergence of a depressive syndrome.

Depression, both early and later in life, has been consistently linked to cognitive decline and later dementia (e.g., Jorm, 2000; Leonard, 2007; Byers and Yaffe, 2011; Da Silva et al., 2013; Zahodne et al., 2013; Donovan et al., 2014; Geda et al., 2014; Santos et al., 2016). Depression also seems to be fundamentally connected to attachment, with a vast body of work demonstrating that attachment-related early life stress can predispose an organism to depression (e.g., Heim and Nemeroff, 1999; Pryce et al., 2005; Heim and Binder, 2012; Nemeroff, 2016; Taillieu et al., 2016; Cecil et al., 2017). Indeed, Watt and Panksepp (2009) conceptualize depression as arising from an evolutionarily preserved “shutdown mechanism” resulting from protracted separation distress in early life. A comprehensive examination of the literature linking early attachment to depression, on the one hand, and depression to cognitive decline, on the other hand, is beyond the scope of this review. However, it is worth considering that depression may play a mediating role in the influence that early attachment could have on later cognitive decline. Furthermore, many of the neurobiological mechanisms which link attachment and separation distress to depression (see Watt and Panksepp, 2009 for a review), will also come forward in our discussion of the neurobiological links between attachment and cognitive performance and decline later in the text.

Thus far, we have examined the importance of social and affective relationships for psychological development and the maintenance of general well-being into old age. We have attempted to clarify this relationship through the lens of attachment theory. However, the impact of these social exchanges, and indeed of attachment processes, can also be observed at the neurobiological and cognitive level.

Influence of Early Attachment on Neurobiological and Cognitive Development

It is now widely accepted that the early childhood environment plays a crucial role in neurobiological and cognitive development (Brummelte, 2017). For infant mammals, the most meaningful aspect of their environment is their social context as it is through interactions with their caregivers that their needs are met (Kundakovic and Champagne, 2015; Chen and Baram, 2016). Early life social stress can therefore leave an enduring imprint on brain connectivity and, thus, cognition and behavior (Fareri and Tottenham, 2016). In this section we present data from both human and animal literature, as studies in animals are uniquely able to offer insights into the causal mechanisms whereby attachment and early life stress forge neurocognitive development. Indeed, Bowlby (1958) himself strongly recommended an ethological approach to the study of attachment.

The first years of life are characterized by remarkable cerebral plasticity (Diamond, 2013) during which an individual's experiences can greatly influence the development and specialization of synaptic networks (Fox et al., 2010; Kolb et al., 2012). Brain maturation over the course of childhood involves the development of connectivity patterns through synaptic stabilization, pruning and branching of dendrites and myelinisation (Bale et al., 2010; Regev and Baram, 2014). During this period of maturation, early attachment relations may have a significant impact on later cognitive abilities. Indeed, securely attached children appear to demonstrate better cognitive skills than insecure children do (De Ruiter and van IJzendoorn, 1993; Van IJzendoorn, 1995; Moss and St-Laurent, 2001;West et al., 2013).

As previously mentioned, the emotional, relational and cognitive development of the child is linked very early on to the quality of the investment of, and safety of its relationships with, its caregivers. The postnatal period appears as a moment of high sensitivity of brain development to stress. Especially if it is chronic and associated with prolonged secretion of cortisol, stress is likely to leave a neurobiological trace that can affect the entire life of the individual. Changes in brain architecture can lead to impaired intellectual, physical and affective development. Early toxic stress can cause subsequent hyper-reactivity to minor stresses with mental and physical consequences that persist into adulthood. Hence the importance of appropriate caregiver-child relationships that do not provoke excessive stress is clear.

In addition, Bowlby (1982) and Ainsworth et al. (1978) proposed that secure attachment would promote an individual's drive to explore their environment, a behavior which is critical to learning and cognitive development. This link with the exploration system may therefore constitute another mechanism by which early attachment can influence later cognitive abilities.

Epigenetic Processes: Mediators of Early Life Experiences on Neurobiological Function

Epigenetic processes may constitute mechanisms through which early attachment impacts later cognition as they allow environmental factors to long lastingly alter gene expression, and hence the phenotype, without altering the DNA sequence (Champagne, 2008).

Animal research has demonstrated that epigenetic regulators such as DNA methylation and acetylation of histones are crucial mechanisms by which the mother pup relationship can influence brain processes later in life (Gervai, 2009; Kundakovic and Champagne, 2015). DNA methylation refers to a chemical modification of the DNA bases, where higher levels of methylation usually lead to lower rates of gene transcription and consequently gene functioning (Allis and Jenuwein, 2016; Ein-Dor et al., 2018). Acetylation of histones, on the other hand, leads to greater levels of gene transcription (Zentner and Henikoff, 2013).

Weaver et al. (2004) provide a clear example of an epigenetic mechanism by which maternal care during early development can affect adult behavior. They demonstrated that differences in licking, grooming and nursing behaviors of rat mothers led to differences in the DNA methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene promotor in the hippocampus. In particular, the offspring of low licking and grooming (LG) mothers show increased DNA methylation of the GR gene lasting into adulthood, leading to reduced hippocampal GR expression which in turn leads to an elevated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to stress (Weaver et al., 2004). This paper forms part of a body of work by Meaney and his colleagues which clearly demonstrates that variations in rodent maternal care have important consequences for HPA functioning, and subsequently also for various cognitive abilities (e.g., Liu et al., 1997, 2000; Caldji et al., 2000; Meaney, 2001; Champagne et al., 2003, 2008). For example, under conditions of stress, low LG pups demonstrate impaired spatial memory when compared with high LG pups (Liu et al., 2000). However, low LG pups show comparatively enhanced hippocampal long-term potentiation under conditions of stress, which has been linked to enhanced contextual fear conditioning (Champagne et al., 2008).

Subsequently, this same research group demonstrated a relationship between childhood abuse and epigenetic regulation of the human hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) expression (McGowan et al., 2009). Increased methylation of NR3C1 has also been linked to attachment avoidance in humans (Ein-Dor et al., 2018), while Bosmans et al. (2018) showed a relationship between increased NR3C1 methylation and anxious attachment. NR3C1 methylation may lead to less efficient down-regulation of the HPA axis, thereby constituting a mechanism by which insecure attachment can affect emotion regulation and the stress response across the lifespan (Ein-Dor et al., 2018).

Brain Structures and Systems That Are Affected by Early Life Experiences

A number of studies have shown that early stress can lead to lasting changes in the activity, connectivity, and volume of various brain structures like the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex (PFC), as well as neuroendocrine, neurotransmitter and neuropeptide systems such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the oxytocinergic system (see Chen and Baram, 2016, for a recent review). The functioning of these structures and systems is closely related. Thus, changes to any one of them can have direct and indirect consequences for the functioning of other brain structures and systems relevant for the development of cognitive impairment in later life (Chen and Baram, 2016). Here, we focus particularly on those changes that may have consequences for the development of cognitive impairment in later life.

The Hippocampus

The hippocampus is a structure with a prolonged post-natal developmental trajectory. It is both highly sensitive to the effects of early-life stress and critical to later cognition as it plays a central role in memory processes (Chen and Baram, 2016). Research in rodents suggests that early life stress impacts hippocampal synaptic plasticity and impairs performance on hippocampus-driven memory tasks such as object recognition and object location into late adulthood (e.g., Brunson et al., 2005; Hulshof et al., 2011; Molet et al., 2016; Pillai et al., 2018; see Derks et al., 2017 for a recent review). Impoverished dendritic trees in the rodent hippocampus following early life stress have also been linked to impaired memory later in life (Ivy et al., 2010; Molet et al., 2016). These changes in dendritic trees likely lead to a reduced number of functional synapses and may progressively worsen with age (Brunson et al., 2005; Ivy et al., 2010). Furthermore, reduced hippocampal volume has been observed both in rodents exposed to early life stress (Molet et al., 2016) as well as in humans who experienced childhood adversity (Buss et al., 2007; Hanson et al., 2015; Teicher and Samson, 2016). Quirin et al. (2010) report reduced hippocampal cell density in insecurely attached individuals. In contrast, maternal support in early childhood has been positively associated with hippocampal volume (Kim et al., 2010; Luby et al., 2016). Rifkin-Graboi et al. (2015) also report a positive relationship between maternal support and hippocampal volume, and between maternal support and hippocampal connectivity to other limbic regions, most importantly the amygdala.

The Amygdala

In contrast to the typically observed reduced hippocampal volume following early life stress, severe childhood stress has been linked repeatedly with increased volume of the human amygdala (Mehta et al., 2009; Tottenham et al., 2010; Lupien et al., 2011; Tottenham, 2012; Davidson and McEwen, 2013; Pechtel et al., 2014). Furthermore, Lyons-Ruth et al. (2016) found that an insecure attachment in infancy predicted greater amygdala volume in adulthood and Coplan et al. (2014) found that early life stress was also associated with amygdala enlargement in macaques. The amygdala is a limbic structure that undergoes developmental changes throughout childhood and is critical to the expression and regulation of fear and anxiety. Thus, it is not surprising that early life stress and insecure attachment can impact its development (Tottenham, 2012; Fareri and Tottenham, 2016). In the rodent amygdala, early life stress leads to various changes including dendritic hypertrophy in the basolateral nuclei (Eiland et al., 2012), altered connectivity (Johnson et al., 2018), and increased activity in response to stress later in life (Sanders and Anticevic, 2007; Malter Cohen et al., 2013). In each case, these neurobiological changes are accompanied by enhanced anxiety and impaired fear regulation. Conversely, appropriate early maternal care (as indexed by high as opposed to low licking, grooming and nursing behaviors) has been associated with both differences in amygdala development and reduced fearfulness later in life (Caldji et al., 1998).

Altered amygdala functioning and connectivity has also been observed following early life stress in humans. Such alterations, which often involve increased amygdala reactivity as well as increased amygdala volume, have furthermore been associated with behavioral changes such as enhanced anxiety across the lifespan (Tottenham et al., 2010, 2011; McCrory et al., 2011; Pechtel and Pizzagalli, 2011; Burghy et al., 2012; Gee et al., 2013; Malter Cohen et al., 2013; Fan et al., 2015; McLaughlin et al., 2015; Lyons-Ruth et al., 2016). However, Hanson et al. (2015) report smaller amygdala volumes in children exposed to various types of early life stress. It is likely that amygdala responses to early life stress are non-linear, and differential outcomes later in life may be related to differences in the timing and severity of early life stress (Pechtel et al., 2014; Callaghan and Tottenham, 2015; Hanson et al., 2015).

The Prefrontal Cortex

The prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is critical to cognitive and behavioral control, can be significantly affected by early life stress (e.g., Van Harmelen et al., 2010, 2014; McEwen and Morrison, 2013; Yang et al., 2015; Demir-Lira et al., 2016). In humans, the PFC undergoes a particularly protracted maturation process, with certain time-windows during early infancy, childhood and adolescence being important for different aspects of this brain area's development (Diamond, 2002; Gogtay et al., 2004). Adverse life events and attachment experiences during any of one of these time-periods may therefore have a lasting impact on PFC functioning. In fact, numerous reports link attachment to the development of cerebral structures, and particularly areas of the PFC, since early stress interferes with brain maturation and, thus, cognition as well as the development of the attachment system (Kraemer, 1992; Schore, 1996; Gunnar and Quevedo, 2007; Belsky and de Haan, 2011). For example, early life stress has been shown to lead to changes in the dendritic density and morphology of medial PFC neurons and to corresponding functional deficits in rodents (Bock et al., 2005; Monroy et al., 2010; Chocyk et al., 2013; Yang et al., 2015; Soztutar et al., 2016). In both rodents and humans, early life stress has also been linked to altered connectivity of the PFC to limbic brain regions such as the hippocampus and the amygdala (e.g., Burghy et al., 2012; Demir-Lira et al., 2016; Reincke and Hanganu-Opatz, 2017; Johnson et al., 2018). Adults who experienced childhood emotional maltreatment show both reduced volume and reduced activation of the medial PFC (Van Harmelen et al., 2010, 2014). Correspondingly, severe early life stress can result in deficient executive control (Hostinar et al., 2012), to which the medial PFC seems to be key (Ridderinkhof et al., 2004).

Executive functions are cognitive processes that permit action initiation or inhibition and allow for adapted responses to new or problematic situations (Hughes, 2011). Executive functions such as working memory, inhibition and flexibility can be considered as cognitive self-regulation mechanisms (Zelazo et al., 2004; Diamond et al., 2007; Liew, 2012). The early family environment can influence the development of executive functions (Bernier et al., 2010, 2012; Matte-Gagné and Bernier, 2011). Indeed, at first, a child relies on the caregiver for stimulation and regulation, but little by little, they internalize these processes to form their own self-regulation system (Calkins and Leerkes, 2004; McClelland et al., 2010). The quality of these first exchanges, paired with the maturation of cerebral structures and the developing capacity to self-regulate, work together to support the development of executive capabilities. By building the potential to control and inhibit impulses, to learn how to direct attention and to modulate emotions (Zimmerman and Schunk, 2001; Crugnola et al., 2011; Panfile and Laible, 2012), self-regulation allows the child to initiate voluntary and controlled actions (Calkins and Leerkes, 2004; Diamond et al., 2007; McClelland et al., 2010). Parental stimulation, encouragement, sensitivity, and support for autonomy all tend to enhance the development of subsequent working memory, flexibility and attention skills (Bibok et al., 2009; Bernier et al., 2010; Matte-Gagné and Bernier, 2011; Mezzacappa et al., 2011; Hammond et al., 2012; Clark et al., 2013; Hopkins et al., 2013).

The HPA Axis

Disruption of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) is likely to drive molecular mechanisms leading to altered hippocampal synaptic plasticity following early life stress (Ivy et al., 2010; Derks et al., 2017). The HPA axis drives a chain of neuroendocrine events in response to stress, starting with the release of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF or CRH) from the hypothalamus. CRF is subsequently the primary trigger for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion by the anterior pituitary gland, which in turn triggers the systemic release of glucocorticoids by the adrenal gland (Bale and Vale, 2004). Changes in CRF release also appear to be implicated in the process whereby early life stress may impair the structural development of the PFC (Yang et al., 2015). The HPA axis is crucial for controlling the regulation of cortisol, the stress hormone, and therefore the behavioral stress response, throughout life (Rincón-Cortés and Sullivan, 2014). Dysregulation of this axis is a frequently observed consequence of early stress.

Corticosteroid hormones (mainly cortisol in humans and corticosterone in rodents) bind to mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) that are expressed abundantly in limbic structures and are important for the transcriptional regulation of certain genes. Fluctuations in the levels of such hormones are thereby able to cause changes in gene expression (De Kloet et al., 2005). Such gene-environment interactions demonstrate how over-excitation of the HPA axis can lead to increased stress-susceptibility and how specific neurological changes can have important consequences for the development of other brain regions and systems (De Kloet et al., 2005).

Growth Hormone and the Insuline-Like-Growth Factor Axis (GH-IGF-1)

Various neurobiological signaling mechanisms that are likely to be influenced by early life stress may also play a role in the extent to which cognition is reduced later in life. For example, abnormally heightened HPA axis activity may lead to the suppression of the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor axis (GH-IGF-1). Indeed, HPA axis dysregulation due to psychosocial causes in institutionalized children has been linked to suppression of the GH-IGF-1 axis and consequent growth failure (Johnson and Gunnar, 2011). Interestingly, IGF-1 is not only crucial to normal tissue growth, but also affects neuroplasticity and cognitive brain functioning throughout the lifespan (Aleman and Torres-Aleman, 2009; Dyer et al., 2016). A decrease in IGF-1 has been strongly implicated in age-related cognitive decline and has been identified as a potential risk factor for dementia (Sonntag et al., 2013; Ashpole et al., 2015; Doi et al., 2015; Quinlan et al., 2017; Frater et al., 2018). As social deprivation in childhood can lead to deficits in IGF-1 (see Johnson and Gunnar, 2011 for a review), suppression of IGF-1 may constitute a pathway whereby adverse attachment experience related to early life stress can exacerbate age-related cognitive decline. Furthermore, IGF-1 extracellular signaling genes are upregulated by juvenile rough-and-tumble play in rats (Burgdorf et al., 2010). Such rough-and-tumble play is considered a highly positive social interaction, and the underlying PLAY system is conceptually linked to early attachment (see section on Attachment and Social Functioning). Therefore, it seems that social deprivation could suppress IGF-1 signaling on the one hand, while on the other hand, positive social interaction could promote IGF-1 signaling, with potentially important consequences for cognitive functioning during aging.

Neuropeptide Signaling

Early attachment is likely to have important consequences for neuropeptide signaling throughout the course of life. For example, oxytocin (OT) seems to play a central role in the neurobiological basis of attachment across species. This hormone behaves like a neuropeptide in the brain and promotes the mother's protective behavior toward her young. In humans, oxytocin has been shown to impact empathy, generosity, sexuality, conjugal and social bonding, and stress reactivity (MacDonald and MacDonald, 2010). Despite this, it is not easy to determine the precise causal relationship between OT and the attachment system. Current evidence suggests a reciprocal and two-way relationship.

OT is synthesized in the hypothalamus, and OT signaling has been extensively linked to pro-social and attachment behavior (Galbally et al., 2011). In monogamous prairie voles, the oxytocinergic system promotes resilience to the effects of neonatal isolation on adult social attachment (Barrett et al., 2015). Early life stress and attachment profile can have epigenetic implications for the expression of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) (Feldman et al., 2016; Pearce et al., 2017; Ein-Dor et al., 2018). Increased DNA methylation of the structural gene for oxytocin (OXT) has also been linked to higher levels of attachment insecurity in adults (Haas et al., 2016). Strathearn et al. (2009) and Pierrehumbert et al. (2012) report differential oxytocin responses to stressors based on differences in adult attachment styles, which are laid down chiefly during early childhood (see section Attachment and Social Functioning).

Many factors contribute to individual variations in the response to stressful experiences. Pierrehumbert et al. (2012) evaluated stress response patterns based on adult attachment style in a community sample as well as in subjects who had been exposed to traumatic events such as abuse or life-threatening diseases during childhood and/or adolescence. Subjects with an avoidant attachment style reported moderate subjective stress, high HPA response, and moderate oxytocin levels. Subjects with an anxious attachment style had moderate levels of subjective stress, HPA response, and relatively low levels of oxytocin. Finally, subjects with a disorganized attachment style reported high subjective stress; they had a suppressed HPA response and moderate levels of oxytocin. These data support the notion that attachment styles may affect stress responses and suggest a specific role for oxytocin in the attachment and stress systems.

However, it is unlikely that attachment is driven by the signaling of a single neuropeptide. The opioidergic, dopaminergic, prolactinergic, and vasopressinergic systems are all closely linked to the oxytocinergic system, and these systems are likely to drive attachment behavior in concert (Insel, 1997; Machin and Dunbar, 2011; Pearce et al., 2017). As put forward by the brain opioid theory of social attachment (Panksepp et al., 1978, 1980; Nelson and Panksepp, 1998; Machin and Dunbar, 2011; Loseth et al., 2014; Inagaki, 2018), the signaling of endogenous opioids, and specifically μ-opioids in the brain is critical both to feelings of social connection and social loss, i.e., separation distress. It is important to note that “social attachment” in terms of this theory refers to social bonds generally, and not specifically those formed during early interactions with the caregiver. Indeed, the developmental link between early attachment and the opioidergic system needs further investigation. However, differences in adult attachment style have been linked to differences in the expression of μ-opiod receptor genes (Troisi et al., 2012; Pearce et al., 2017) as well as to differences in the availability of μ-opioid receptors in the brain (Nummenmaa et al., 2015). In their work on the link between early attachment, separation distress and depression (see section Effects of Social Relations on Cognitive Decline), Watt and Panksepp (2009) also emphasize the importance of the opioidergic system, as well as that of the oxytocinergic and other neurotransmitter systems, the HPA axis, and immune responses. As social bonds can play an important role in maintaining cognitive abilities in old age, the potential impact of early attachment on the signaling of socially relevant neuropeptides provides another example of how early secure attachment could protect against cognitive decline later in life.

Neuroinflammation

It is also important to consider the role that neuroinflammation could play in mediating the impact of early attachment on cognitive capacity later in life. Neuroinflammation is thought to play an important role in Alzheimer's disease pathology (see Heneka et al., 2015 for a review), as well as in the pathology of other dementias (see Pasqualetti et al., 2015). Evidence suggests that early life stress can have lifelong consequences for susceptibility to neuroinflammation in rodents (Ganguly and Brenhouse, 2015; Roque et al., 2016; Hoeijmakers et al., 2017). Social stress and insecure early attachment have also been associated with inflammatory responses in humans (e.g., Gouin et al., 2009; Slavich et al., 2010; see Ehrlich, 2019, for a recent review of the links between adult attachment and psychoneuroimmunology, with a specific focus on inflammatory responses). Neuroinflammation is likely to constitute yet another mechanism through which stress can lead to cognitive decline (Hoeijmakers et al., 2018). Indeed, aside from the potential impact of early life stress on neuroinflammation, neuroinflammation may also mediate the link between later life stress and depression on the one hand, and cognitive decline and dementia on the other hand (Leonard, 2007; García-Bueno et al., 2008; Slavich and Irwin, 2014; Miller and Raison, 2016; Santos et al., 2016; Bisht et al., 2018; Justice, 2018).

Implications for Dementia Related Pathologies

Crucially, many of the brain structures and systems that are impacted by early adverse attachment experience and early life stress are also implicated in dementia-related neuropathology. For example, the two neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) and amyloid containing senile plaques (SP) (alongside synaptic and neuronal loss), typically emerge in medio-temporal lobe areas such as the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex and amygdala, before spreading to areas of the neocortex (von Gunten et al., 2006; Giannakopoulos et al., 2009; Perl, 2010; Sperling et al., 2011; Nelson et al., 2012; Yang et al., 2012). Dysregulation in the HPA axis has been observed both in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and has been linked to worsening cognition. Thus, HPA dysregulation constitutes one likely mechanism through which stress can lead to cognitive decline and possibly dementia (Lupien et al., 1998; Magri et al., 2006; Gil-Bea et al., 2010; Gupta and Morley, 2014; Popp et al., 2015; Pietrzak et al., 2017; Caruso et al., 2018). As brought forward above, neuroinflammation and changes in the signaling of neuropeptides and insulin-like growth factor are also likely to play a role in neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Finally, although PFC damage can be observed in early stages of Alzheimer's disease (von Gunten et al., 2005, 2006), it may be more common in other types of dementia, such as frontotemporal dementia and vascular dementia (e.g., McPherson and Cummings, 1996; Rosen et al., 2002; Neary et al., 2005; Korczyn et al., 2012).

In animal models, current work is starting to link early life stress to the development of specific dementia-related pathologies more directly. For example, in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, early life stress and maternal separation have been linked to increased amyloid accumulation in the hippocampus and to cognitive deficits (Hoeijmakers et al., 2017; Hui et al., 2017), whereas increased maternal care has been linked to delayed amyloid accumulation and delayed cognitive decline (Lesuis et al., 2017). Recently, Hoeijmakers et al. (2018) reviewed the evidence linking early life stress to enhanced risk for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease in rodent models.

Attachment and the Exploration System

The evidence outlined above points to a clear influence of early attachment experience on neurobiological development, with consequences for cognitive and social functioning across the lifespan. Furthermore, links between the attachment and exploration systems may promote cognitive development. Although the attachment and exploration systems are distinct, they are intrinsically linked, as, in addition to addressing needs of proximity and protection, attachment bonds also promote exploration behavior (Ainsworth and Wittig, 1969; Bowlby, 1969, 1980; Ainsworth et al., 1978). Such exploration is driven by what Panksepp calls the SEEKING system, which essentially compels an individual to explore the environment in response to appetitive needs (Ellis and Solms, 2017). Such exploration includes investigation of and engagement with the environment (Panksepp, 1998; Bergin and Bergin, 2009).

The level of attachment security is reflected in the balance between comfort seeking behaviors and the drive to explore the environment (Ainsworth, 1985; Weinfield et al., 1999). When the child feels sufficient confidence in their relationship with the caregiver, as well as confidence in the availability of the caregiver in case of need, this will allow the activation of the exploration system (Grossmann et al., 2008; Weinfield et al., 2008). When facing a threat, discomfort or challenging situation, children with a secure attachment profile have the ability to search for support and comfort from their caregiver. After being reassured and comforted, they may return to their exploratory activities. As they have the ability to internalize a representation of a positive and reliable caregiver, secure children tend to invest themselves in more challenging investigations, which may in turn induce greater cognitive stimulation (Bretherton, 1985; Bus et al., 1995).

Insecure children do not demonstrate the same balance between exploration and attachment. Anxious children maintain attachment behaviors even in the absence of threatening or harmful situations. As a result, they are unable to invest fully in the exploration of their environment (Ainsworth and Bell, 1970). On the contrary, when faced with threatening or stressful situations, avoidant infants suppress their attachment needs and appear to be able to maintain their exploratory activities without expressing the need for support. These children will therefore not experience the same beneficial interactions with the caregiver as secure children would (O'Connor and McCartney, 2007).

An increased ability to interact with the environment and social world will promote cognitive skills and favor the development of neural networks and cognitive functions central to self-regulation (Bernier et al., 2010; Stievenart et al., 2011). This is in line with animal research that has shown that frequent and diversified activity increases the number of neurons and synapses and positively influences brain and cognitive reserves (Churchill et al., 2002). Indeed, some studies have demonstrated that exploration mediates the link between attachment and later cognitive skills (O'Connor and McCartney, 2007; West et al., 2013; McCormick et al., 2016). O'Connor and McCartney (2007), observed that the effect of insecure attachment on cognitive skills in first grade children is attributable to various factors. Specifically, insecure children showed a low level of commitment to tasks, demonstrated reduced exploration, received poor quality maternal assistance, maintained poor quality relationships with teachers, and demonstrated low-level communication and attention skills, which were in turn associated with lower levels of cognitive abilities.

Therefore, in addition to the neurodevelopmental impact of early attachment, we have discussed how the attachment system may promote social interaction and cognitive development. Taken together, these processes could favor the development of brain and cognitive reserve and, thus, protect against later cognitive decline or dementia.

Protective Aspects of Brain and Cognitive Reserve

Aging may be associated with changes in cognitive performance as well as neurological changes on the chemical, structural and functional level. The concepts of brain and cognitive reserve (BCR) have been put forward as explanations for the frequent miss-match between the severity of neurodegeneration and the severity of its clinical manifestation. Inter-individual differences in available BCR may explain differences in the extent to which cognitive performance is preserved following neurodegeneration (Stern, 2002, 2009). BCR should protect both against the adverse consequences of decline due to normal aging, as well as against damage due to degenerative diseases or other pathological processes or events. We hypothesize that one of the mechanisms whereby early social interactions may promote the maintenance of cognitive abilities in later life is by contributing to the development of BCR.

The terms cognitive and brain reserve have been used somewhat interchangeably in the literature (Roe et al., 2007; Nithianantharajah and Hannan, 2011). Initially, the term brain reserve was used to describe inter-individual differences in certain quantitative properties of the brain, which might protect against the clinical manifestations of brain damage or degeneration (Satz, 1993; Stern, 2012). For example, individuals with larger brain size, or a higher number of neurons and synapses, may be able to sustain more extensive neurodegeneration before clinical manifestations emerge than individuals with lower levels of such “brain reserve” (Katzman et al., 1988; Katzman, 1993; Schofield et al., 1997; Van Loenhoud et al., 2018). According to this model, reserve was originally conceived as passive and predefined, and clinical symptoms should be observed once pathological alterations surpass a certain fixed threshold (Satz, 1993). By contrast, the concept of cognitive reserve was put forward to describe processes through which an individual might actively counteract or compensate for neuropathology, through the activation of cognitive systems and neural networks (Stern, 2002, 2009). Consequently, individuals with higher levels of education, intelligence, or occupational attainment may be better equipped to resist the clinical impact of brain damage, due to more efficient processing or the ability to recruit new neural networks when performing complex tasks (Stern, 2009). As such, cognitive reserve enhances the ability to make use of damaged resources in order to perform tasks successfully.

Although conceptually distinguishable, brain reserve and cognitive reserve are related one to the other (Nithianantharajah and Hannan, 2011; Stern, 2012). For example, cognitive reserve built up by education or general intelligence may be related to aspects of brain structure, such as increased synaptic density (Katzman, 1993). Brain reserve may not be as static as was originally proposed due, for example, to the potential for adult neurogenesis or enhanced neural plasticity as a result of upregulated BDNF (Stern, 2012; Van Loenhoud et al., 2018). For these reasons, we follow Nithianantharajah and Hannan (2009) in using the term BCR to refer to these ideas collectively.

Various lifestyle and environmental factors have been associated with BCR. Epidemiological studies have provided substantial evidence that factors such as linguistic ability in young adulthood, education (e.g., more years of formal schooling), intellectually stimulating work and engaging in leisure activities can slow cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia (e.g., Snowdon et al., 1996; Fratiglioni and Wang, 2007; Sharp and Gatz, 2011; Pool et al., 2016; Soldan et al., 2017; Wang et al., 2017; Groot et al., 2018). A number of studies have focused specifically on the impact of early childhood education and socioeconomic environment on BCR. They suggest that this period may be critical for reducing the rate of cognitive decline and the risk of dementia later in life (Stern et al., 1994; De Ronchi et al., 1998; Moceri et al., 2000, 2001; Ravona-Springer et al., 2012; Dekhtyar et al., 2015; Zahodne et al., 2015). Early education may be important for BCR as it occurs during critical neurodevelopmental windows (Zahodne et al., 2015).

Recently, Lesuis et al. (2018) have argued for an important link between the early life environment and BCR. After reviewing evidence from rodent studies, they suggest that early life experiences may influence BCR, cognitive decline and the development of Alzheimer's pathology through a variety of mechanisms. These mechanisms may include altering dendritic and synaptic complexity and programming the HPA axis and the neuroinflammatory response. Correspondingly, we would like to argue that many of the mechanisms underlying the positive influence of early attachment on cognitive and neurobiological development (see section Influence of Early Attachment on Neurobiological and Cognitive Development) could protect against cognitive decline and dementia by acting on BCR. The socio-affective mechanisms whereby early attachment may protect against later cognitive decline (outlined in the section on Attachment, Social Factors, Cognitive Decline and Dementia) could be interpreted similarly. Indeed, a number of previous authors have highlighted the potential link between social factors such as network size, social support and social satisfaction with BCR (Glymour et al., 2008; Amieva et al., 2010; Stoykova et al., 2011). However, the empirical evidence remains limited, and further research is needed to test if, and how, early attachment contributes to BCR.

Conclusion and Future Perspectives

Although developmental psychology has traditionally focused on the progression from childhood into young adulthood, this review draws attention to the potentially long-lasting effects of early life experiences and early developmental processes into old age. For a schematic summary of the arguments put forward in this review, please see Figure 1. In line with Bowlby's words “from the cradle to the grave,” we have offered evidence of the continuation of the effects of primary attachment relations from early childhood to old age. The quality of early life interactions influences neurobiological, cognitive, affective and social development and may thereby protect against later cognitive decline. On the one hand, early attachment experiences could influence the will to maintain social engagements and relationships later in life, as well as the perceived quality of social support. On the other hand, attachment experiences may influence—through their influence on neurobiological development and cognitive functioning—the development or availability of brain and cognitive reserve. Furthermore, affective and social consequences of attachment experiences may themselves be able to foster the successful functioning and maintenance of these reserves. Perhaps, alongside the notions of brain and cognitive reserve, we may want to introduce the idea of “affective reserve,” which would explain how favorable affective resources might protect against cognitive decline.

FIGURE 1

Figure 1. Schematic summary of article. In this figure, we summarize the arguments put forward in this review. It is important to note that, while the arrows in this figure are unidirectional (thereby keeping with the main thrust of the article), it is likely that the influence between many of the nodes in this scheme could in fact run in both directions. However, we have chosen one-directional arrows as we believe these most accurately demonstrate the arguments brought forward in this review, which specifically emphasize the proposed impact of early secure attachment on later cognitive decline and dementia.

Taken together, BCR and affective reserve could explain the differences observed in the way elderly people cope with age-related changes. In a similar vein, an increasing interest in the study of resilience in elderly people is currently emerging (MacLeod et al., 2016; Arenaza-Urquijo and Vemuri, 2018). Resilience refers to the capacity for positive adaptation in the face of life adversity, trauma or significant sources of stress. In older adults, resilience is mostly studied in the context of well-being, successful aging and preserved functioning (Ong et al., 2009). In line with the arguments brought forward in this review, early life experiences may favor the development of these adaptive processes, which may in turn help elderly people to cope successfully with significant somatic, psychological and environmental changes (Lesuis et al., 2018). Thus, resilience could be seen as similar to our notion of “affective reserve.” A deeper understanding of affective and social contributors, and the manner in which they interact with more traditional ideas of BCR, could be crucial to elucidating how cognitive functioning may be maintained with age (Bartrés-Faz et al., 2018).

It is up to future work to test these ideas. The link between early attachment, BCR and affective reserve, and eventual cognitive decline and dementia needs to be investigated more directly and in greater detail. If such a link is confirmed, it may well-prove useful in the quest for early identification of individuals at risk of developing dementia and in suggesting new avenues for interventions.

Author Contributions

EW, YB, and AD equally contributed to the writing of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the conception and design of the review and/or revisions, manuscript revision, read and approved the submitted version.

Funding

This work was funded by contributions from the Swiss National Science Foundation project no. 320030_153378, a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship from the Swiss Confederation, the South African National Research Foundation and the Synapsis Foundation Switzerland.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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