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The ACE pyramid developed by the CDC helps explain how ACEs can increase the risk of adopting risky behaviors and experiencing disease, disability, and social problems.
This page explores evolving research around the science of brain development and how disrupted neurodevelopment can impact lifelong outcomes. |
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The Developing Brain
An infant’s brain doubles in size during the first year of life. By age three, it is 80 percent of its adult size. Healthy brain development in these early years creates a strong foundation for future health, mental functioning and overall well-being.
Positive interactions with caring adults in the early years builds the foundation needed for healthy brain development.
According to Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, learning to cope with adversity is an important part of child development. If we feel threatened, our bodies help us respond by increasing stress hormones, which raises heart
rate, blood pressure and muscle tone. When a young child experiences stress within an environment of supportive adult relationships, the effects of stress are buffered and naturally brought back down to baseline. This helps a child develop a healthy response to stress.
When a child experiences stress that is powerful, frequent, prolonged, and/or unpredictable without adequate adult support, that child’s stress-response system remains on at all times. This high level of stress can disrupt the development of the brain and other organs, and increase the risk for poor health, learning, and social outcomes.
Positive interactions with caring adults in the early years builds the foundation needed for healthy brain development.
According to Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, learning to cope with adversity is an important part of child development. If we feel threatened, our bodies help us respond by increasing stress hormones, which raises heart
rate, blood pressure and muscle tone. When a young child experiences stress within an environment of supportive adult relationships, the effects of stress are buffered and naturally brought back down to baseline. This helps a child develop a healthy response to stress.
When a child experiences stress that is powerful, frequent, prolonged, and/or unpredictable without adequate adult support, that child’s stress-response system remains on at all times. This high level of stress can disrupt the development of the brain and other organs, and increase the risk for poor health, learning, and social outcomes.
Adoption of Health Risk Behaviors
According to leading researchers, there are two primary ways that childhood adversity can transform into long-term health issues:
ACE research shows that we must consider the underlying issues that might cause behaviors we see in individuals that lead to poor health problems. Some health-risk behaviors may have less to do with poor decision-making than with fulfilling a physiological need, such as to de-stress, protect oneself, or feel love. Someone who smokes, for example, may find that smoking assists in relaxing their overactive stress-response system.
The ACE data shows a correlation between experiencing childhood trauma and adopting health-risk behaviors. In one national study, for example, adults who reported four or more ACEs were six times more likely to report initiation of alcohol use by age 14 than those with zero ACEs (Dube, 2006).
- Disease that occurs as the result of coping strategies such as overeating, smoking or drug use
- Disease caused by chronic, toxic stress
ACE research shows that we must consider the underlying issues that might cause behaviors we see in individuals that lead to poor health problems. Some health-risk behaviors may have less to do with poor decision-making than with fulfilling a physiological need, such as to de-stress, protect oneself, or feel love. Someone who smokes, for example, may find that smoking assists in relaxing their overactive stress-response system.
The ACE data shows a correlation between experiencing childhood trauma and adopting health-risk behaviors. In one national study, for example, adults who reported four or more ACEs were six times more likely to report initiation of alcohol use by age 14 than those with zero ACEs (Dube, 2006).
Disease, Disability, and Social Outcomes
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Health
Some serious health outcomes can stem from the adoption of health-risk behaviors. However, the health risks of early toxic stress cannot be attributed to behavior alone. Researchers who conducted the initial ACEs Study looked at patients with an ACEs score of seven or higher who didn’t smoke, didn’t drink to excess and weren’t overweight. They found that the risk of ischemic heart disease (the most common cause of death in the United States) in this population was 360 percent higher compared to patients with a score of 0. This proves that an increase in stress hormones within the body affects health over time. Learn more about health care. |
When you look at adverse childhood experiences, they’re actually a stronger predictor of risk of ischemic heart disease than any of the traditional risk factors when you think of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. - Dr. Nadine Burke Harris,
Surgeon General of California |
Mental Health
One in five adults, or approximately 600,000 Iowans, live with some form of mental illness (NAMI Iowa). As Iowa moves toward building a stronger mental health system to respond to an increasing need for services, we must consider the correlation
between childhood trauma and mental health outcomes in adulthood. Not all mental illnesses are driven by trauma. For those who have experienced trauma, however, Iowa data shows a strong link between ACEs and experiencing anxiety and/or depression later in life.
Education
Students with a higher number of ACEs are more likely to:
Educators play a vital role in creating positive environments by recognizing the ways that stress and trauma affect children's behaviors and abilities, as well as creating safe spaces for children to maintain or regain a sense of calm.
Learn more about education.
Business
Employees experiencing four or more ACEs compared to those with zero are, according the the CDC:
Business growth and sustainability requires recognizing the impact trauma has on individuals in t eh workplace and creating an environment that prioritizes employee well-being, access to supports, and family needs.
One in five adults, or approximately 600,000 Iowans, live with some form of mental illness (NAMI Iowa). As Iowa moves toward building a stronger mental health system to respond to an increasing need for services, we must consider the correlation
between childhood trauma and mental health outcomes in adulthood. Not all mental illnesses are driven by trauma. For those who have experienced trauma, however, Iowa data shows a strong link between ACEs and experiencing anxiety and/or depression later in life.
Education
Students with a higher number of ACEs are more likely to:
- Score lower on a standardized test
- Have language difficulties
- Be suspended or expelled
- Have poorer health
- Fail a grade
Educators play a vital role in creating positive environments by recognizing the ways that stress and trauma affect children's behaviors and abilities, as well as creating safe spaces for children to maintain or regain a sense of calm.
Learn more about education.
Business
Employees experiencing four or more ACEs compared to those with zero are, according the the CDC:
- 2.3x more likely to have relationship problems
- 2.4x more likely to have job problems
- 2.4x more likely to be absent from work
- 3.5x more likely to abuse substances
Business growth and sustainability requires recognizing the impact trauma has on individuals in t eh workplace and creating an environment that prioritizes employee well-being, access to supports, and family needs.
The complex and compounding challenges surrounding ACEs requires multiple solutions working together.