It might seem obvious that negative experiences early on in life have impact on mental health. A new study from UCSF researchers indicates that childhood trauma also has an impact on physical health.
Dr. Alison J. Huang, Director of Research in the Division of General Internal Medicine at UCSF Health and senior author of the study, joined KCBS Radio’s Alice Wertz this week on “As Prescribed” to explain the connection.
“So first we found that over 40% of the women and men in the study recalled one or more significant adverse childhood experiences,” she said of the research, published earlier this month in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
These experiences varied, and included exposure to violence, financial strain, poor health and separation from parents. Adults who participated in the study (around 3,400) underwent a variety of tests, covering their ability to walk, to balance and more.
“The women and men who did recall these experiences – they had clear, objective signs of greater physical mobility impairments, cognitive impairment in older age,” Huang said.
According to UCSF, study results show that adults who experienced violence in childhood were 40% more likely to have mobility impairment and 80% more likely to have difficulty with daily activities. Additionally, those who came from unhappy families were 40% more likely to have at least mild cognitive impairment.
Nationwide, an estimated 60% of adults have experienced one or more types of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) that can undermine their sense of safety or stability, per U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data cited by UCSF. Wertz asked Huang what implications the recent study might have when it comes to medical practice.
She said it demonstrates a need for doctors and medical personnel from different specialties to work together. Those working in pediatric health often think of immediate childhood issues, and those working with older adults don’t often want to speculate on what may have happened to a patient during their childhood.
“I think one takeaway from the study is that we kind of need to move beyond these clinician specialty lines and really adopt a more kind of lifestyle approach to health,” Huang explained. “What we need to think a little bit more about... the kind of implications and interconnectedness of stress and trauma across the whole life span.”
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