Childhood maltreatment linked to heart disease

Recent research has found a link between maltreatment in early life and the development of heart disease in adulthood.

The findings are from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development study, which has followed nearly 1,000 people since birth to 32 years of age.

Different types of maltreatment, from maternal rejection or harsh discipline to physical or mental abuse, have been assessed over the course of the study.

There is a clear link between the level of maltreatment in the first 10 years of life to indicators of inflammation in the blood, which are known to be associated with the development of heart disease in adulthood.

This is thought to be related to changed physiological adaptation to the stress (‘fight or flight’) response in those who suffer more stress.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 23 January 2007