In the early years of childhood, the brain undergoes critical phases of development, forming essential neural connections that shape our future behavior and well-being. During this sensitive time, the environment a child grows up in often predicts their future behavior as adults.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), such as emotional and physical abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, leave lasting scars on the brain. These experiences trigger an overactive stress response, leading to chronically elevated levels of cortisol - the body’s stress hormone. As a result, children exposed to ACEs are at a significantly higher risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, depression, and drug addiction.
Chronic stress from these experiences has also been linked to:
- Impaired learning
- Reduced IQ
- Memory and attention deficits
MRI studies show a relationship between ACEs and a reduction of the gray matter in the prefrontal cortex, the decision-making center, and the amygdala, which processes fear.
Despite these challenges, recovery is possible. As adults, survivors of ACEs can find healing through trauma-informed care, which focuses on healthy strategies to address past traumas and rebuild connections with society.
At Brightstar Community, we are dedicated to this mission, offering essential services, including trauma-informed care, to female ACE survivors and empowering them to reclaim their lives and futures.
References
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Oshri A, Gray JC, Owens MM, Liu S, Duprey EB, Sweet LH, MacKillop J. Adverse Childhood Experiences and Amygdalar Reduction: High-Resolution Segmentation Reveals Associations With Subnuclei and Psychiatric Outcomes. Child Maltreat. 2019 Nov;24(4):400-410. doi: 10.1177/1077559519839491. Epub 2019 Apr 28. PMID: 31030539; PMCID: PMC6813855.
Tognin S, Catalan A, Kempton MJ, Nelson B, McGorry P, Riecher-Rössler A, Bressan R, Barrantes-Vidal N, Krebs MO, Nordentoft M, Ruhrmann S, Sachs G, Rutten BPF, van Os J, de Haan L, van der Gaag M; EU-GEI High-Risk Study; McGuire P, Valmaggia LR. Impact of adverse childhood experiences on educational achievements in young people at clinical high risk of developing psychosis. Eur Psychiatry. 2023 Jan 18;66(1):e16. doi: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.2351. PMID: 36649929; PMCID: PMC9970149.
Wong KE, Wade TJ, Moore J, Marcellus A, Molnar DS, O'Leary DD, MacNeil AJ. Examining the relationships between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), cortisol, and inflammation among young adults. Brain Behav Immun Health. 2022 Sep 20;25:100516. doi: 10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100516. PMID: 36177305; PMCID: PMC9513107.
