People who suffered emotional harm in childhood may be at higher risk of stroke in middle age, according to an article published online in the journal Neurology.
Previous research has shown that people who have suffered emotional harm in childhood have a higher risk of developing a range of mental health conditions. However, our study is one of the few that looks at the link between emotional abuse of children and the risk of a future stroke, ‘explains co-author of the latest work, Dr. Robert S. Wilson from Rush University (USA).
Together with his colleagues, he examined over 1 Patients – participants in a study called the Memory and Aging Project – who are 55 years of age or older and without dementia. They were asked to complete questionnaires about whether they had experienced physical and psychological abuse before the age of 18. The questions concerned, inter alia, whether the study participants felt loved by their parents or guardians at the time, whether they were intimidated or intimidated, and whether they were beaten with a belt or other tool. Information was also collected on traumatic events from childhood, such as the divorce of parents, and the economic status of the family at that time.
Within 3,5 years, 257 people in the study group died, of which 206 underwent brain autopsy to see if they died of a stroke. In total, the signs of a stroke were found in 89 people.
It found that only emotional abuse was associated with a higher risk of stroke in old age. People who experienced it more were almost three times (2,8 times) more likely to suffer a stroke than those who experienced less emotional harm. The analysis looked at known risk factors for stroke, including diabetes, lack of exercise, smoking, anxiety and heart problems.
According to the co-author of the work, Dr. David A. Bennett, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush University, the results of these studies provide further evidence that various factors from early life, such as childhood traumatic experiences, affect not only the development of mental disorders but also common diseases of the elderly century.
The researchers also point out that the disadvantage of these studies was that the source of information about emotional harm in childhood were the memories of the respondents. This created the risk that the data obtained was inaccurate. (PAP)
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