By Nicole Fisher, Forbes, October 7, 2020
Poverty, neglect, housing instability, violence, food insecurity and separation from parents all affect childhood development – and thus, lifelong health. Although children are born ready to learn and grow, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that occur in youth resulting in toxic stress.
And that toxic stress from ACEs can literally change how the brain develops and affect how the body responds to stress as one ages. Specifically, per the CDC, ACEs have been linked to chronic health problems, mental illness and substance misuse in adulthood. However, prevention of ACEs can go a long way in improving health throughout life. In fact, according to a recent National Press Foundation (NPF) briefing, three of the five most costly adult diseases are associated with early life adversity.
However, the American Academy of Pediatrics clarifies, “While some stress in life is normal—and even necessary for development—the type of stress that results when a child experiences ACEs may become toxic when there is strong, frequent, or prolonged activation of the body’s stress response systems in the absence of the buffering protection of a supportive, adult relationship.” And this toxic response can be destructive over the lifetime.
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