How many ACE’s (adverse childhood experiences) are associated with chronic disease?

There have been many studies linking the role of ACE’s to chronic disease later in life. I wanted to share a 2023 study here that looked to identify a cut-point for the number of ACE’s that would have a significant association with chronic disease later in life.

The authors found after looking at data in 10,000 people that a cut-point of four or more ACEs was significantly associated with increased rates of chronic disease. Participants with at least one chronic disease were almost 3 times more likely to be in the high ACE group.

I screen for ACE’s in all new patients. It is very important to understand the role childhood may have played in shaping the brain and nervous system. Even though it may have been decades ago, our childhood still affects us today. Our personality, emotions, beliefs, and our thinking have all been shaped and influenced by our upbringing.

So if we have a number of ACE scores, I believe it is important to look at them and how our childhood may have affected us now. How ACE’s may have contributed to our current symptoms through the underlying processes in the brain and nervous system.