Blog Post #3 – How do adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact physical and mental health in adulthood?

HI everyone and welcome back to my Blog. My main inquiry questions this semster is, How do early childhood experiences influence long-term health outcomes? To answer this big questions I will focus my research around the question, How do adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact physical and mental health in adulthood?

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) refer to traumatic events that occur before the age of 18, including physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction such as substance abuse, mental illness, or domestic violence. (1) The impact of ACEs on brain development can have long-lasting effects on an childs physical health, mental health, and well-being. (2)

Some examples of how ACES can impact brain development are: (2)

1. Increased Sensitivity to Stress: ACEs can heighten the brain’s sensitivity to stress, causing exaggerated reactions to normal situations.
2. Difficulty with Emotion Regulation: ACEs can impair the ability to regulate emotions, leading to mood swings and challenges in controlling feelings.
3. Impact on Learning and Memory: ACEs can disrupt brain functions involved in learning and memory, making it harder to concentrate and retain information.
4. Changes in Brain Structure: ACEs can physically alter brain regions linked to stress and emotional processing, affecting behavior and mental health.

These effects don’t only impact individuals as children, the effects also linger into adulthood and can impact them for the rest of their lives. As an example, adults who experienced ACEs as children have trouble building relationships and holding down jobs due to their emotional setback and poor wellbeing from a young age. To add, when a child feels threatened or unsafe, their sympathetic nervous system may stay activated for an extended period. This prolonged stress response can lead to toxic stress, which disrupts the formation of essential neural connections. These disrupted neural pathways can have long-term negative effects on mental health. As a result, individuals who experience ACEs are at a higher risk for developing substance use disorders, depression, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors later in life. (3)

Another long term effect of ACEs is generational poverty, when a child experiences neglect and abuse, they usually maintain a cycle of generational poverty, especially becaue it is found that children growing up in low socio-economic conditions are statistically more vulnerable to abuse and household instability. Similarly, those who experience childhood trauma are at a higher risk of facing challenges with education, employment, and financial stability in adulthood. (3)

ACEs does not only impact mental health, it also impacts physical health and can have lasting intergenerational effects. As an example, experiencing ACEs during childhood can lead to severe obesity, diabetes, suicide attempts, STDs, stroke, cancer, lung disease and more. (4) This is because ACEs activates the body’s stress response system, leading to chronic stress. This prolonged stress can damage the heart, immune system, and other bodily systems, increasing the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. Additionally, ACEs can lead to unhealthy coping, such as smoking, which further harm physical health. (5)

Genes are the instructions our bodies follow to produce proteins, which are essential for every process that makes us who we are. Epigenetics refers to the way our genes can be “turned on” or “off” based on environmental factors and life experiences. These changes don’t alter the underlying DNA sequence but affect how genes are expressed. Research shows that traumatic experiences, such as ACEs, can modify our epigenetic profile—essentially “leaving a mark” on our genes. This can have lasting effects on the individual, influencing their stress responses and overall health. Even more concerning, these epigenetic changes can be passed down to future generations, meaning the way our bodies respond to stress may be inherited by our children, potentially increasing their vulnerability to similar health and emotional challenges. (6)

Thankfully, the brain is maleable and there are many things we can do to not only prevent children from having ACEs, but also support adults who struggled with such experiences during their childhood. (7) Preventing ACEs requires support from parents, communities, and society. Parents and caregivers can help by talking openly with children about their mental health, teaching emotional regulation, and seeking support when needed. It’s important to recognize signs of distress in children, such as changes in behavior or school performance, and praise them regularly to build self-esteem. Parents can also access parenting skill programs to strengthen their relationships with children. Communities play a vital role by improving access to quality childcare, preschool programs, and providing mentoring opportunities. Policies that support families, such as assistance with childcare costs, healthy nutrition, and paid family leave, are also key in preventing ACEs. Finally, offering services like crisis intervention and family-centered therapy can help mitigate the impact of ACEs and break the cycle of trauma. (7)

Key points to preventing ACES:

• Advocate for policies that help balance work and family responsibilities.

• Encourage emotional support and open communication in families.

• Support community programs for healthy child development and mentoring.

Preventing ACEs is crucial because these early traumas can have long-lasting effects on a person’s physical and mental health (as said above). ACEs are linked to an increased risk of chronic conditions, disease, and lasting mental health issues. Additionally, they can affect brain development, emotional regulation, and stress response systems, making children more vulnerable to challenges in adulthood. Preventing ACEs helps break the cycle of trauma, promoting healthier, more resilient individuals and communities. By addressing the root causes of ACEs, we can reduce the burden on healthcare systems, improve educational outcomes, and create safer, more supportive environments for future generations. Overall, prevention leads to a better quality of life, fewer health disparities, and a stronger society overall. (8)

Next Blog Post, I will focus more on childhood nutrition and how that can impact long-term health outcomes. Thank you for reading!

SOURCES:

1. “Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/aces/index.html. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024. 

2. “How Adverse Childhood Experiences(Ace’s) Affect Brain Development.” New Jersey Pediatric Neuroscience Institute, 10 Oct. 2024, njpediatricneurosurgery.com/posts/news/how-adverse-childhood-experiences-ace-affect-brain-development/. 

3. Warren, Darice. “The Long-Term Mental Health Impact from Adverse Childhood Experiences.” NextStep Solutions, 19 Aug. 2022, www.nssbehavioralhealth.com/nss-blog-the-long-term-mental-health-impact-from-adverse-childhood-experiences/. 

4. “What Are Aces?” Joining Forces For Children, 29 Mar. 2018, www.joiningforcesforchildren.org/what-are-aces/. 

5. “Aces and Their Health Impacts.” Emerging Minds, 22 May 2022, emergingminds.com.au/resources/background-to-aces-and-impacts/#:~:text=The%20impact%20of%20ACEs%20on%20health%20and%20functioning,-Exposure%20to%20ACEs&text=The%20greater%20the%20number%20of,disease%2C%20diabetes%2C%20and%20cancer. 

6. Reshawna Chapple, PhD. “What Is Generational Trauma?” Talkspace, 17 Oct. 2023, www.talkspace.com/blog/generational-trauma/#:~:text=Generational%20trauma%20can%20be%20best,Substance%20abuse. 

7. “Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/aces/prevention/index.html. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024. 

8. About the Author:      John Sciamanna                                                                                                  John Sciamanna is CWLA’s Vice President of Public Policy., and John Sciamanna is CWLA’s Vice President of Public Policy. “Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces).” CWLA, www.cwla.org/preventing-adverse-childhood-experiences-aces/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.