Fig. 1.

Causal diagrams for the effect of CSA on probable dementia/cognitive impairment showing: (a) indirect effects but no confounding. (b) time dependent confounding. (c) time dependent confounding affected by prior treatment.

Each line represents a hypothesized causal relationship, the color has been added to highlight the difference between models only. $Y$ represents probable cognitive impairment or dementia at wave 7. A₂, A₃ …. A_t represents CSA exposure at each time point. $V_1$ represents CSA at baseline. L₁, L₂ …. L_t represent all observed potential confounders. U₁, U₂ …. U_t represent all unobserved potential confounders and the dashed lines unobserved potential causal relationships. (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)