What our Brains Remember as our Bodies Age

Dawne Clark, PhDCentre for Child Well-Being

Mount Royal UniversityMay 15, 2010

What does our brain do for us?

Human beings, as a species, have three primary functions: to survive,

to procreate, and to raise our young

Our brain is the organ of the body which allows us to organize and fulfill our three primary functions

(Perry, 2004)

Some Amazing Brain Facts!

• Our brains begin to develop only 3 weeks after conception!

• The brain is about 75% water and weighs about 3 pounds.

Your skin weighs about twice as much as your brain!

More Facts!• There are 15 times more brain cells in your head

than there are people on the planet!

• The number of possible interconnections amongst the neurons in one brain exceeds the estimated number of atoms in the entire universe!

Our brain is an experiential organ

What happens when the brain has negative experiences?

An Analogy

75% 25%

Negative experiences before birth

• Prenatal – Genetic challenges, chromosomal damage

• i.e. Autism Spectrum Disorders, Schizophrenia

– Teratogens • i.e. nicotine, alcohol, drugs

We all experience stress – even children

StressDr. Sonia Lupien describes the

components of severe stress:• N – Novelty • U – Unpredictability • T – Threat to the ego • S – Sense of loss of control

Some stress is okay or even good – but don’t go NUTS!

Chronic Anxiety and Persistent Fear

• Abuse, neglect, ongoing domestic violence• May experience lifelong consequences as a

result of disruptions to the developing structure of the brain

• These states trigger extreme, prolonged activation of the child’s stress response system

(National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2010)

How fear and anxiety affect the developing brain

What this damage may look like

• Distorted perception and response to threat– serious anxiety disorders– problems with social interactions– greater vulnerability to stress– greater likelihood of responding

aggressively

• A child’s ability to learn– Memory– Problem-solving abilities

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study

Largest population health study (over 17,000) relating early childhood experiences to adult health issues

•Obesity clinic – Inability or unwillingness to lose weight– Memories of adverse experiences before

age 18

Nine most common adverse experiences

1 Recurrent physical abuse

2 Recurrent emotional abuse

3 Emotional or physical neglect

4 Contact sexual abuse5 Domestic violence

6 Alcohol and/or drug abuse in the home

7 Family member who is chronically depressed, mentally ill, suicidal or institutionalized

8 One or no parents9 An incarcerated

household member

Main Findings of ACE Study

ACE Score Women Men Average0 34.5 38.0 36.11 24.5 27.9 26.02 15.5 16.4 15.93 10.3 8.6 9.5

4 or more 15.2 9.2 12.5

ACEs are surprisingly common among middle class Americans

ACEs have an impact even up to fifty years later

• alcoholism and alcohol abuse

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

• depression• fetal death• health-related quality of life• illicit drug use

• ischemic heart disease (IHD)• liver disease• risk for intimate partner

violence• multiple sexual partners• sexually transmitted

diseases (STDs)• smoking• suicide attempts

ACE score and smoking

ACE score and illicit drug use

Impact of ACEs over the lifespan

Why is it important to know about the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study?

• The ACE study provides compelling evidence that:– ACEs are surprisingly

common – They happen even in

“the best of families” – They have long-term,

damaging consequences

Conclusion

We now know that:• Early experiences impact the

developing brain• The brain doesn’t forget• The trajectory of development

over the lifespan is affected– Learning and abilities– Health– Relationships

What can we do to change the trajectory?

Dawne Clark, PhDCentre for Child Well-Being

Mount Royal Universitywww.mtroyal.ca/wellbeing