The Science of ACEs

The CDC-Kaiser ACE Study, conducted between...was the first to examine the relationship between early childhood adversity and negative lifelong health effects. The research found that the long-term impact of ACEs determined future health risks, chronic disease, and premature death. Individuals who had experienced multiple ACEs also faced higher risks of depression, addiction, obesity, attempted suicide, mental health disorders, and other health concerns. It also revealed that ACEs were surprisingly common—almost two-thirds of respondents, part of the largely white, well-off sample, reported at least one ACE19.

For infants and toddlers who are exposed to persistent stress, these kinds of adverse childhood experiences can cause changes in brain structure, potentially harming their physical, emotional, and educational development far into the future.

Yet ACEs are not inevitable, nor do they have to determine the destiny of a child who experiences them. ACEs can be prevented, and when they do occur, concrete steps can be taken to help children heal...supportive relationships, can serve as a protective buffer, and help children foster resilience and thrive.