Adverse childhood experiences: the risks
If a person is in a constant state of fear or stress, their brain may adapt to survive within this environment. This may lead to
impaired development of areas of the brain involved in logical thinking (such as the prefrontal cortex) and memory (such as the hippocampus)
.
How do ACEs affect your invisible health?
ACEs have been linked to the development of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease and hepatitis. Researchers hypothesize that
ACEs may lead to poor health by disregulating the body’s normal stress responses
.
What is the most harmful ace?
| Leading causes of deaths in the U.S. (2017) Odds ratios for ≥ 4 ACEs (relative to no ACEs) | 1. Heart Disease 2.1 | 2. Cancer 2.3 | 3. Accidents (unintentional injuries) 2.6 | 4. Chronic lower respiratory disease 3.1 |
|---|
How do ACEs affect adulthood?
Impact of ACEs
Some of the effects of ACEs on our physical and mental health are: An increase in the risk of certain health problems in adulthood, such as cancer and heart disease, as well as increasing the risk of mental health difficulties, violence and becoming a victim of violence.
Who do ACEs affect?
ACEs can affect
anyone- regardless of their gender, level of education, occupation, income, neighbourhood, and culture
.
How do ACEs affect children’s development?
Exposure to ACEs can disrupt child development, resulting in
cognitive, social, emotional and behaviour deficits
. As a result, ACEs can lead to poor outcomes across the life course, effecting physical and mental health and leading to the adoption of health harming behaviours (e.g. alcohol and drug use).
How do ACEs affect decision-making?
Recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies suggest that the higher an individual’s ACE score, the less gray matter she or he has in other key areas of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex, an area related to decision-making and self-regulatory skills, and the amygdala, or fear-processing center.
How do ACEs affect physical development?
The higher your ACE score, the higher the likelihood of developing long-term health problems like heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes
.
What are ACEs childhood trauma?
“ACEs” stands for “
Adverse Childhood Experiences
.” These experiences can include things like physical and emotional abuse, neglect, caregiver mental illness, and household violence.
What are ACEs in trauma?
ACEs are
traumatic events that occur before a child reaches the age of 18
. ACEs include all types of abuse and neglect, such as parental substance use, incarceration, and domestic violence.
Why is it important to understand ACEs?
The increased public understanding that childhood adversity, including ACEs,
can cause trauma and toxic stress
—and, in turn, have a lasting impact on children’s physical and mental health—presents an important opportunity to turn this awareness into action.
ACEs are associated with a range of poor health and social outcomes in adulthood — according to the original US study and subsequent studies, including in England and Wales.
ACEs can increase an individual’s risk of developing a range of harmful behaviours
: high-risk drinking. smoking.
What are the ACE factors?
- All types of abuse and neglect.
- Parental substance use or mental illness.
- Parental incarceration.
- Domestic violence.
- Divorce.
Is poverty an ACE?
Poverty is a strong reinforcing factor in the accumulation of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
and subsequent toxic stress correlated with unfavorable health outcomes in adulthood [3, 4].
How do ACEs affect relationships?
An individual who had experienced adverse childhood experiences may instead be
more inclined to feel betrayed in relationships, keep secrets, feel invalidated, and lack a sense of safety which is more likely to result in social isolation
(Clark et al., 2015).
How does childhood experience affect mental health?
Early life adversity is a major risk factor for the development of psychological and behavioural problems later in life.
Higher rates of depression, suicidality, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and aggressive behaviour
have been reported in adults who experienced childhood maltreatment.
What is ACE in psychology?
Adverse Childhood Experiences
(ACEs)
How do early life experiences affect your adolescent brain?
Early experiences influence the developing brain.
Chronic stress can be toxic to developing brains
. Significant early adversity can lead to lifelong problems. Early intervention can prevent the consequences of early adversity.
