Research from the University of Dundee has shown that experiencing any amount of stress in childhood increases the likelihood of chronic diseases later in life by 13 percent.
An adverse childhood experience (ACE) is any additional stress experienced before the age of 18. These can include a wide range of negative experiences, such as abuse, family dysfunction, and other forms of stress like ridicule, hunger, or war.
So far, ONMP has been associated with an increased risk of various adverse health and social consequences in old age. However, its overall effect on chronic diseases, also known as multimorbidity, in old age remains unknown.
To determine the effect of PMN, a team of specialists from the university’s School of Medicine, led by Dr. Dhan Senaratne, conducted a meta-analysis of 25 studies involving more than 370,000 people. Their work was published in the journal BMC Medicine.
Dr. Senaratne emphasized that while this study strengthens the evidence supporting the health effects of childhood stress in adulthood, it does not establish whether NCDs are the direct cause of multimorbidity.
According to him, research on detection and prevention methods for ONMP could be useful in reducing the risk of developing long-term diseases.
