Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Study 

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Study was a groundbreaking longitudinal research project conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in partnership with Kaiser Permanente in the late 1990s. Led by Drs. Vincent Felitti and Robert Anda, the study surveyed over 17,000 adult patients at Kaiser Permanente in California, examining the relationship between childhood adversity and long-term health outcomes.

Key Findings:

• ACEs included experiences such as abuse (physical, emotional, sexual), neglect, and household dysfunction (e.g., domestic violence, parental substance use, incarceration, or mental illness).

• The study revealed a strong, graded relationship between the number of ACEs a person experienced and the risk for numerous health and social problems.

• Higher ACE scores were linked to:

  • Increased risk of chronic diseases (heart disease, diabetes, cancer)

  • Mental health challenges (depression, anxiety, suicide)

  • Substance use, risky behaviors, and early death

• The study confirmed that childhood trauma has a lasting, biological impact on brain development, immune systems, and behavioral patterns.

Impact:

The ACEs study fundamentally reshaped how public health, education, and child welfare systems understand trauma, laying the foundation for the trauma-informed care movement. It emphasized the need to address root causes rather than symptoms and underscored the importance of early intervention, prevention, and relational support.