The ACE Study

2:41

Companion Slides

Adverse Childhood Experiences — the landmark study linking childhood adversity to adult health.

Key Concepts

  • Felitti & Anda (1998): 17,000+ participants, Kaiser Permanente
  • 10 categories: abuse, neglect, household dysfunction
  • 67% of respondents had at least one ACE
  • Dose-response: more ACEs → worse adult health outcomes
  • ACEs are a public health framework, not a diagnostic label

Part of

Module 1: How Trauma Changes People

What trauma really is, how the brain responds, what the ACE study tells us, and the science of resilience.