ACEs
What are they?
ACEs are adverse childhood experiences that
occur before age 18. ACEs can cause toxic stress and subsequent problems In the absence of
protective factors
ABUSE
Emotional
Physical
Sexual
NEGLECT
Emotional
Physical
HOUSEHOLD
DISTRESS
Witnessing:
Divorce, Separation, Death, Abuse, Mental Illness, Drug Use,
Alcohol Use, Incarceration
Neurodevelopment
The brainstem and structures of the limbic system are the first to detect toxic stress in the environment.
These structures are:
Toxic stress and the
PREFRONTAL CORTEX
-
Loses neurons and neural connections
-
Weakens executive functions such as decision making, mood, memory, impulse control, behaviour control, creativity.
Toxic stress and the
BRAIN STEM
The brain is wired so that social, emotional, and cognitive skills are intertwined.
Impaired neurodevelopment
as a result of toxic stress negatively impacts
these connections.
Social, Emotional, & Cognitive
Adoption of
HEALTH
RISK
BEHAVIORS
Health risk behaviors are often adopted as
coping mechanisms from exposure to ACEs.
A dose-response relationship exists between exposures to ACEs and risk factors
associated with morbidity and mortality.
Exposure
to
ACEs
DISEASES
that contribute to the leading causes of death in the United States
How does this happen?
Direct changes to
Physiology
In a stressful situation, the body prepares itself to flee from danger.
Stress triggers The HPA Axis.
As a result, high concentrations of Cortisol and Adrenaline
enter in the blood stream.
This increases heart rate,
blood pressure, and muscle vigor.
Adrenaline stiumlates increased glucose to the brain, muscles,
and organs.
COMPLICATIONS
TOO MUCH
ADRENALINE
is associated with
-
High glucose levels
-
Increased insulin resistance
-
Type two diabetes
-
Increased blood lipid levels
Without prevention and intervention, the effects of ACEs and toxic stress can continue to make people sick and
die young.
trouble maintaining social support networks.
Increased likelihood to fail in the education system, join gangs,
be unemployed, poor, homeless, incarcerated, and be a single parent.
Parents who have experienced ACEs have a harder time being buffers and providing safety for their children.
This propagates social inequalities and fragile families for future generations.
Along with ACEs , structural problems like discrimination contribute to these outcomes.
Other challenges of coping with ACEs in the absence of protective factors:
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
ACES
ADVERSE
CHILDHOOD
EXPERIENCES
Will you be ready to treat your patients?
70% of your patients will have had at least one ACE in their childhood. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been identified as a root cause for chronic diseases, chronic illnesses, and mortality in adulthood.
Physiologic
Stress
Response
Toxic stress and the
AMYGDALA
-
Hypertrophies
-
Stays overactive
-
Stays primed for danger
-
Activates the...
Toxic stress and the
HIPPOCAMPUS
-
Loses neurons and neural connections
-
Contributes to memory loss
-
Osteoporosis
-
Arthritis
-
Gastrointestinal issues
-
Depression
-
Anorexia
-
Hyperthyroidism
-
Diabetes
-
Difficulty preventing infections
-
Shrinking of lymph nodes and the thymus gland.
