what our brains remember as our bodies age dawne clark, phd centre for child well-being mount royal...
Post on 20-Dec-2015
214 views
TRANSCRIPT
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