Abstract
BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with increased risk of non-communicable diseases in adulthood, potentially mediated by chronic low-grade inflammation. Glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA) is a marker of chronic and cumulative inflammation. We investigated associations between ACEs and GlycA at different ages, in two generations of the population-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort. MethodsALSPAC offspring’s total ACE scores were generated for two age periods using prospectively collected data: 0-7y and 0-17y. GlycA was measured using high-resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance at mean ages 8y, 18y, and 24y. Sample sizes ranged from: n = 5116 (8y) to n = 3085 (24y). ALSPAC mothers (n = 4634) retrospectively reported ACEs experienced before age 18y and GlycA was assessed at mean age 49y. We used multivariable linear regression to estimate associations between ACEs (total ACE score and individual ACEs) and subsequent GlycA in both samples, adjusting for key confounders. ResultsMean GlycA levels were similar in offspring and mothers and over time. In offspring, there was no evidence that ACEs (total score or individual ACE) were associated with GlycA at age 8y or 18y, or 24y after adjustment for maternal age at birth and parity, maternal marital status, household occupational social class, maternal education, maternal smoking, own ethnicity, sex, and age in months. In mothers, there was evidence of a positive association between the total ACE score and GlycA at age 49y (adjusted mean difference 0.007 mmol/L; 95%CI: 0.003, 0.01). Emotional neglect was the only individual ACE associated with higher GlycA after adjusting for confounders and other ACEs. ConclusionResults suggest the association between ACEs and GlycA may emerge in middle age. Future research should explore the extent to which inflammation in adulthood mediates well-documented associations between ACEs and adverse health outcomes in later life.
Highlights
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) (Felitti et al, 1998) are ex periences such as sexual abuse or substance abuse in the household which require “significant adaptation by the developing child in terms of psychological, social, and neurodevelopmental systems, and which are outside of the normal expected environment” (McLaughlin, 2016)
Chronic inflammation may play a role in the aetiology of physical (Franceschi and Campisi, 2014; Wang et al, 2002; Lawler et al, 2020) and mental health disorders (Khandaker et al, 2014), many of which are suggested effects of ACE exposure (Salas, 2019)
We found differences between individual ACEs driving the association with Glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA) between the two generations
Summary
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) (Felitti et al, 1998) are ex periences such as sexual abuse or substance abuse in the household which require “significant adaptation by the developing child in terms of psychological, social, and neurodevelopmental systems, and which are outside of the normal expected environment” (McLaughlin, 2016). Chronic inflammation may play a role in the aetiology of physical (Franceschi and Campisi, 2014; Wang et al, 2002; Lawler et al, 2020) and mental health disorders (Khandaker et al, 2014), many of which are suggested effects of ACE exposure (Salas, 2019). Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with increased risk of non-communicable diseases in adulthood, potentially mediated by chronic low-grade inflammation. We used multivariable linear regression to estimate associations between ACEs (total ACE score and individual ACEs) and subsequent GlycA in both samples, adjusting for key confounders. There was evidence of a positive association between the total ACE score and GlycA at age 49y (adjusted mean difference 0.007 mmol/ L; 95%CI: 0.003, 0.01). Future research should explore the extent to which inflammation in adulthood mediates well-documented associations between ACEs and adverse health outcomes in later life
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