CIESPI has long been concerned with the life-time effects on children growing up in contexts of high vulnerability such as violent, crowded, and unhealthy communities. Many children in urban Brazil grow up in such conditions. A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the top U.S. government health research organization, points out the depth of the problem. A study involving 140,00 adults in 25 U.S. states shows that those adults who reported having the most Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACEs had more chronic health conditions in late life such as depression, smoking, drinking and socioeconomic struggles. Such conditions are linked to leading causes of death including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, respiratory conditions and suicide. ACEs include such phenomena as childhood abuse and neglect, witnessing domestic violence, substance abuse in the home, and physical and emotional neglect. Childhood poverty is also a major contributing factor for adult problems.

An analysis in the CDC report showed that if these ACEs were eliminated, there could be a reduction of up to 1.9 million cases of heart disease, 21 million cases of depression and 2.5 million cases of obesity in the U.S. Preventive measures include support programs for families such as new mother nurse home-visiting programs, high-quality childcare and education, and a child having at least one positive adult in his or her life.

CIESPI is currently planning with some of its international partners new research, policy and practice initiatives in the area of supporting low-income children growing up in vulnerable conditions.

For the full study and other information on toxic stress see the CDC website .