According to a new statewide report released Wednesday, there is a strong correlation between childhood traumatic experiences and poor health. These adverse childhood experiences, often referred to as simply ACEs, are defined by researchers as traumatic incidents that have a profound impact on a child’s developing brain and body, and can lead to an unhealthy adult life.
The most common types of ACEs among California adults, as detailed in the report, include: emotional abuse, parental separation, substance abuse by a household member and witness to domestic violence, among others.
The report explains that people reporting four or more ACEs are more likely to face greater physical and mental health challenges as well as social and economic challenges. Those with several ACEs, the report said, are 5.1 more times as likely to suffer from depression, and 4.2 times as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The report’s key findings also indicated that this group is also 12 times more likely to be the victims of sexual violence after the age of 18 and 50 percent more likely to lack health insurance.
[For more of this story, written by Ana B. Ibarra, go to http://www.mercedsunstar.com/living/health-fitness/ana-ibarra-health/article3591950.html#storylink=cpy]
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