P-66 Impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on adult physical health: A literature review
Author(s):
C Alexander, S Compton
Year of Presentation:
2026
Objective: To investigate the relationship between adverse
childhood experiences and adult physical health and wellbeing. It explored the biological pathways utilized by adverse
experiences to cause health pathology in adulthood.
Methods: The narrative review was conducted using PubMed, ScienceDirect and PsycINFO as databases. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and keywords included adverse childhood experiences, chronic disease, non-communicable disease, and stress physiology. A total of 14 articles were used, published between 2000 and 2024.
Results: The effects of adverse childhood experiences on adult physical are associated with metabolic disorder, cardiovascular disease, and chronic pain. The mechanism dysregulates the body through the HPA pathway, which in turn affects cortisol levels, eventually impairing immune function. There have also been studies showing the connections between elevated inflammatory markers, and epigenetic modifications. Chronic diseases were found to be more pronounced in communities of lower socioeconomic status. Supportive relationships, community engagement, and coping skills were found to be protective factors.
Conclusion: Adverse childhood experiences result in physiological dysfunction, which leads to disease. They have proven themselves to be an ongoing global challenge. ACEs will continue to burden our society and contribute to extensive comorbidity in adulthood unless appropriate public health measures are adopted to neutralize their effect.