Adverse Childhood Experiences and Early Life Adversity and their Effects on Chronic Health: A Literature Review

With more than 439,000 annual U.S. deaths associated with childhood adversity, it is important to understand and prevent exposure to Adverse Childhood Events and Early Life Adversity. The purpose of this literature review is to identify and examine the pathophysiology between adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s) and their negative effects on health across the lifespan. Fifteen peer-reviewed articles that were published in notable journals were analyzed to include in this review. The results of these articles show that Adverse Childhood Experiences and Early Life Adversity can lead to the development of chronic inflammatory conditions across the lifespan. Using Barker Hypothesis and the Early Life Sensitivity Model, this review examines the pathophysiological mechanisms by which ACE’s and ELA can lead to dysregulation of the immune system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Early childhood exposure to adverse events causes chronic heightened cortisol levels and increased inflammatory markers, which contribute to the development and increase the risk of chronic inflammatory diseases. Interventions focused on protecting children and preventing exposure to adverse events are a priority in combating these long-term health effects.