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ACE SCIENCE

Understand the science behind the ACE study

Learn more about this groundbreaking study and how it’s expanded our understanding of the impacts of adverse childhood experiences on brain development. 

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About the ACE study

Dr. Robert Anda and Dr. Vincent Felitti are the co-principal investigators of the groundbreaking ACE study sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the mid-1990's.

The ACE study is one of the largest studies of childhood adversity and its connection to life-long health and well-being, involving 17,000 participants in San Diego, California. 

This study was important because it confirmed, with scientific evidence, that adverse childhood experiences early in life are not only common but increase the risk for physical, mental and behavioral health challenges across the lifespan, including 5 of the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. 

ACE Study Findings

When learning about the ACE Study, it is important to remember that it is an epidemiological study about population-level, not individual-level health risk.

Everyone’s ACE story is unique – our personal story and not our destiny.  

The ACE Study’s findings are also consistent with converging discoveries in neurobiology (brain science) and the effect of toxic stress on the developing brain and body.

Other scientific findings and ACE studies continue to expand our understanding of the impacts of adverse community experiences, historical trauma and generational hardship on families and healthy child development. What’s key to this ongoing research is the impact that childhood stressors have on larger public health concerns.

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Keep Reading

The CDC provides a complete overview of the facts and impacts of the ACE study.

The takeaways we want to highlight

  • ACEs are common: about 64% of U.S. adults reported they had experienced at least one type of ACE before age 18, and nearly 1 in 6 (17.3%) reported they had experienced four or more types of ACEs. (CDC)
  • ACEs are preventable.
    “ACEs are highly predictive of many of our Nation’s worst health and social problems. The good news, however, is that what is predictive is preventable.” Dr. Robert Anda 

Protective factors are things we can all do to mitigate the impact of stress in the lives of children. 

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Ready to Dive Deeper and Take Action?

The Family Tree, in partnership with EFC, is leading the effort in Maryland to inform our communities about the science and impact of ACEs, through the renowned training program known as ACE Interface. 

ACE Interface Trainings are designed to support widespread awareness, promote understanding and empower communities to improve health and well-being throughout society.

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to attend or host an ACE Interface workshop near you.

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Host a Film Screening

In 2016, James Redford directed and produced Resilience: The Biology of Stress and The Science of Hope, a one-hour documentary on the impacts of toxic stress on children and society. The film encourages us to examine programs that are working across the country and to find creative solutions for our own communities.

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to host a film screening of Resilience in your community.

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