Understanding the Lifelong Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

In 1995 a CDC & Kaiser study of 17,000+ adults showed that the negative things people experienced as children held lifelong implications.  Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) were linked to decreased physical & mental health, negative behavioral outcomes, and premature death.

These ACEs represent 10 specific experiences in three categories: physical, emotional, and sexual abuse; physical and emotional neglect; and household factors including mental illness, domestic violence, substance abuse,  incarceration, and divorce.

Over time, some experts have suggested expanding this list by including peer victimization, spanking, household gambling problems, foster care placement, CPS involvement, poverty, and lack of neighborhood safety. In addition, some have advocated for removing divorce.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, studies have found people who experienced multiple ACEs had increased rates of depression and mental illness. But many were surprised to discover that ACEs also led to significant physical health concerns, including asthma, heart disease, and cancer.

ACEs have also been linked to additional problems, including smoking, substance use, unemployment, lack of health insurance, and dropping out of school. In fact, the CDC estimates that by preventing ACEs we could see a drastic reduction in the top 10 leading causes of death.  

However, the impact of ACEs is not just on individuals. All those problems have a huge impact on our budgets—at an individual, communal, and nationwide level. One study found that childhood abuse and neglect alone account for a $401 billion lifetime economic burden.

So, what makes ACEs so powerful? When we are faced with chronic toxic stress, it actually rewires our brain. Our body produces high levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which never find an opportunity to return to normal levels since the individual is always on high alert. 

When this happens during our formative years, this is particularly harmful. During the time that our brains are experiencing the most growth and should be focused on positive wiring, they are instead focused on survival. This can actually alter the expression of our DNA.

When the deck is stacked against you in this way, is there any hope of bringing change? The answer is resoundingly yes. Just as our brains can be rewired due to chronic stress, they can also be wired again in new, healthy ways. We call this neuroplasticity.

Resilience can be built with strong family bonds, safe communities, and meaningful relationships. Healing can also come through therapy utilizing trauma-informed models such as EMDR, ARC, and TF-CBT. Using these strategies can bring healing and help you overcome ACEs.