They found that those who experienced violence in childhood were 40% more likely to have mobility impairment and 80% more likely to have difficulty with daily activities. Those who came from unhappy families were 40% more likely to have at last mild cognitive impairment. These findings appeared in the
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Almost 60 percent of adults in the U.S. have experienced one or more types of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) that can undermine a child’s sense of safety or stability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This is associated with chronic physical and mental health issues, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune disease, and depression. But there’s little research documenting the health implications of ACEs across the full lifespan, even though older adults bear the greatest burden of most health conditions().
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In 2021, California became the first state to mandate commercial insurance coverage for screening for early stressful or traumatic experiences in both children and adults. Eight other states are considering or implementing similar legislation.
This type of screening, however, remains controversial due to an unclear impact on long-term health and a possible burden on the health care system.
Drawing upon data from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, a national cohort of older U.S. adults, the new study examined nearly 3,400 participants, slightly more than half female, who were 50 to 97 years old and lived in community settings. Participants were asked about ACEs and underwent tests of balance and walking, as well as cognition and memory. Their difficulty with performing the activities of daily living was also assessed.
Close to half – 44% – reported a history of at least one ACE between age 6 and 16. These included experiencing violence (14%), witnessing violence (16%), financial stress (13%), separation from a parent (16%), and poor health (6%) in childhood. One in five reported more than one adverse childhood experience.
This raises implications for geriatric care: early recognition of childhood trauma may be useful in identifying adults who might benefit from screening or prevention strategies for aging-associated functional decline.
References:
- Mulvihill, Deanna. The health impact of childhood trauma: an interdisciplinary review, 1997-2003. Issues in comprehensive pediatric nursing vol. 28,2 (2005): 115-36.(https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01460860590950890?journalCode=icpn20)
- Beilharz, Jessica Elise et al. The impact of childhood trauma on psychosocial functioning and physical health in a non-clinical community sample of young adults. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry vol. 54,2 (2020): 185-194.(https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0004867419881206)
Source: Eurekalert
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