Cited by 430Child Abuse and TraumaTelomeres, Telomerase, and SenescenceStress Responses and Cortisol

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 71 of the 73 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Childhood Adversity Heightens the Impact of Later-Life Caregiving Stress on Telomere Length and Inflammation

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Kiecolt-Glaser, Janice K., Gouin, Jean-Philippe, Weng, Nan-ping, Malarkey, William B., Beversdorf, David Q., Glaser, Ronald·2011·Psychosomatic Medicine

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To address the question of whether childhood abuse and other adversities have lasting, detectable consequences for inflammation and cell aging late in life, and whether the effects are large enough to be discernible beyond that of a major chronic stressor, dementia family caregiving. Previous research on the physical health consequences of childhood abuse and other adversities has been based on data from young or middle-aged adults. METHOD: In this community sample of 132 healthy older adults (mean age = 69.70 years; standard deviation = 10.14), including 58 dementia family caregivers and 74 non-caregivers, blood samples were analyzed for interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and telomere length, a measure of cell aging. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. RESULTS: After controlling for age, caregiving status, gender, body mass index, exercise, and sleep, the presence of multiple childhood adversities was related to both heightened IL-6 (0.37 ± 0.03 log10 pg/mL versus 0.44 ± 0.03 log10 pg/mL) and shorter telomeres (6.51 ± 0.17 Kb versus 5.87 ± 0.20 Kb), compared with the absence of adversity; the telomere difference could translate into a 7- to 15-year difference in life span. Abuse was associated with heightened IL-6 and TNF-α levels; for TNF-α, this relationship was magnified in caregivers compared with controls. Moreover, abuse and caregiving status were associated significantly and independently with higher levels of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse childhood events are related to continued vulnerability among older adults, enhancing the impact of chronic stressors. Childhood adversities cast a very long shadow.

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Metadata

Authors
Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Gouin, J.-P., Weng, N.-P., Malarkey, W. B., Beversdorf, D. Q., & Glaser, R.
Affiliations
National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Glaser, Ronald
Venue
Psychosomatic Medicine
Published
2011-01
Volume
73
Issue
1
Pages
16-22
ISSN
0033-3174 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2141379992
Cited by
430
References
73
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 42 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 34
FWCI
28.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychosomatic Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Aging (AG025732, R21AG025732)
  • National Cancer Institute (CA16058, P30CA016058)
  • National Center for Research Resources (UL1RR025755)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords
childhood adversity, childhood abuse, dementia caregiving, family caregivers, telomere length, cellular aging, inflammation, interleukin-6, TNF-α, depressive symptoms, chronic stress, older adults
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Child, Child Abuse, Depression, Female, Humans, Inflammation, Leukocytes, Mononuclear, Life Change Events, Male, Psychoneuroimmunology, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Stress, Psychological, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, Interleukin-6, Body Mass Index, Telomere, Cellular Senescence, Caregivers, Adult Survivors of Child Abuse

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