Lifespan could reduce with adversity and childhood abuse
Emotional pains suffered by human beings in childhood could result in weakened immune systems in the later period of life, according to a new study.
Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, professor of psychology and psychiatry at Ohio State University, said that childhood abuse can have a serious impact on immune system functioning in the latter part of life.
From in.news.yahoo.com:
Forty-four percent of them served as primary caregivers for family members suffering from dementia, while 56 percent were non-caregivers.
The researchers took blood samples from each person measuring the levels of two cytokines known to be stress markers – interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF).
They also used a series of surveys to determine the participants’ level of depression, health status, health behaviors and whether they had experienced childhood abuse or neglect.
The surveys also looked for adverse events as kids such as the loss of a parent, serious marital problems between parents, or mental illness or alcoholism within their family.
Lastly, from the blood samples they were able to measure the lengths of telomeres, bits of DNA on the ends of chromosomes.
“Every time a cell divides, it loses a little bit of its DNA at the ends. So the faster that process takes place, the more DNA is lost, and that’s significant,” said Glaser.
The findings were explained at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in San Diego.
Tags: childhood abuse, cytokines, immune systems


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