October 4, 2024
Trauma at Life’s Beginning Can Mar Its End, Study Finds
The U.S. News & World Report discussed new research finding early life trauma, especially physical abuse by parents, is strongly associated with end-of-life pain, loneliness, and depression. Kate Duchowny said,
“We know that trauma is associated with depression and anxiety, which may promote a pro-inflammatory environment that is associated with chronic conditions. If stress is persistent, it can lead to inflammation and adverse health consequences later in life.”
Original research:
Kate A. Duchowny, Alexander K. Smith, Irena Cenzer, Chelsea Brown, Grace Noppert, Kristine Yaffe, Amy L. Byers, Carla Perissinotto, Ashwin A. Kotwal (2024). The prevalence of lifetime trauma and association with physical and psychosocial health among adults at the end of life. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.