Reducing Toxic Stress to Protect the Health of our Children

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Presentation by Jack Shonkoff, M.D. given at the 2010 RWJF LFP Annual Meeting in St. Paul, MN. Research indicates that significant adversities in the early childhood years, such as from abuse or neglect and exposure to violence, can disrupt developing brain architecture and other organ systems and lead to higher rates of stress-related physical and mental health problems later in life. Science suggests that a range of early childhood policies and programs may hold the key to lifelong health promotion and disease prevention. Above and beyond improving a child’s readiness to succeed in school, we may be able to affect cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse.

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JACK P. SHONKOFF, M.D.

Julius B. Richmond FAMRI Professor of Child Health and Development

Professor of Pediatrics and Director, Center on the Developing Child

Harvard University

Closing the Gap Between What We Know and What We Do

Reducing Toxic Stress to Protect the Health of our Children and Communities

Multiple Sources of Knowledge Currently Inform Practice in Poorly Connected Sectors

Health

Economic Development

Human Services

Education

Science & Experience

Science & Experience

Science & Experience

Science & Experience

An Integrated Science of Early Childhood Development Could Drive More Productive

Investments Across Sectors

Health Education

Economic Development

Human Services

SCIENCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD

Significant Adversity Impairs Development in the First Three Years

Number of Risk Factors Source: Barth, et al. (2008)

Ch

ild

ren

wit

h

Develo

pm

en

tal

Dela

ys

1-2 3 54 6 7

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Risk Factors for Adult Depression are Embedded in Adverse Childhood Experiences

Od

ds R

ati

o

Adverse Experiences Source: Chapman et al, 2004

0 1 2 3 4 5+

1

2

4

3

5

Risk Factors for Adult Heart Disease are Embedded in Adverse Childhood Experiences

Adverse Experiences Source: Dong, et al. (2004)

Od

ds R

ati

o

0 1 2 3 4 5,6 7,8

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Early Life Experiences Are Built Into Our

Bodies (For Better or For Worse)

Three Levels of Stress Response

Significant Neglect Affects Brain Power

Profound Neglect Impairs Physical Growth

Source: Johnson et al. (2000)

New Biological Evidence Links Maltreatment in Childhood to Greater Risk of Adult Heart Disease

Percent of adults with biological

marker for greater risk of heart disease

(increased blood level of CRP)

Source: Danese et al. (2008)

10%

20%

40%

30%

50%

Depression (age 32)

Depression (age 32) + Maltreated (as a child)

Maltreated (as a child)

Positive Childhood Experiences Lead to a Higher Threshold for Activation of

Stress Response Systems

homeostasis

A balancing act

New homeostatic set point

Early positive experiences

Adverse Childhood Experiences Lead to a Lower Threshold for Activation of

Stress Response Systems

homeostasis

A balancing act

New homeostatic set point

Early negative experiences

Science Can Inform an Integrated Approach to Early Investment in Lifelong Health

Source: Center on the Developing Child (2010)

Health & Development Across the Lifespan

Preconception Prenatal

Early

Childhood

Middle

Childhood Adolescence

Adulthood

Biological Adaptations

or Disruptions

Foundations of Healthy

Development

Caregiver & Community Capacities

Policy & Program

Levers for Innovation

Health & Development Across the Lifespan

Preconception Prenatal

Early

Childhood

Middle

Childhood Adolescence

Adulthood

Source: Center on the Developing Child (2010)

Biology of Health and

Development Foundations of Healthy

Development

Caregiver & Community Capacities

Policy & Program

Levers for Innovation

Outcomes in Lifelong Well-Being

Healthy Development Can Be Assessed in Multiple Ways

Health-Related Behaviors

Educational Achievement & Economic Productivity

Physical & Mental Health

Biological Adaptations

or Disruptions

Foundations of Healthy

Development Caregiver & Community Capacities

Policy & Program

Levers for Innovation

Biology of Health and Development

Early Experiences Are Built Into the Body Through Complex Pathways

Source: Center on the Developing Child (2010)

Biological Embedding

During Sensitive Periods

Cumulative Effects Over Time

Gene-Environment Interaction

Physiological Adaptations & Disruptions

Health-Related Behaviors

Educational Achievement & Economic Productivity

Physical & Mental Health

Outcomes in Lifelong Well-Being

Health-Related Behaviors

Educational Achievement & Economic Productivity

Physical & Mental Health

Outcomes in Lifelong Well-Being

Biological Adaptations

or Disruptions

Foundations of Healthy

Development

Caregiver & Community Capacities

Policy & Program

Levers for Innovation

Stable, Responsive Relationships

Safe, Supportive Environments

Appropriate Nutrition

The Foundations of Healthy Development Influence Biological Responses

Source: Center on the Developing Child (2010)

Foundations of Healthy Development

Health-Related Behaviors

Educational Achievement & Economic Productivity

Physical & Mental Health

Outcomes in Lifelong Well-Being

Biological Adaptations

or Disruptions

Foundations of Healthy

Development

Caregiver & Community Capacities

Policy & Program

Levers for Innovation

Time and Commitment

Financial, Psychological, and Institutional Resources

Skills and Knowledge

Caregiver and Community Capacities Affect the Strength of the Foundations

Source: Center on the Developing Child (2010)

Caregiver and Community Capacities

Health-Related Behaviors

Educational Achievement & Economic Productivity

Physical & Mental Health

Outcomes in Lifelong Well-Being

Biological Adaptations

or Disruptions

Foundations of Healthy

Development

Caregiver & Community Capacities

Policy & Program

Levers for Innovation

Public Health

Child Care & Early Education

Child Protection & Social Welfare

Economic & Community Development

Primary Health Care

Private Sector Actions

The Health Needs of Young Children Can Be Addressed Across Multiple Sectors

Source: Center on the Developing Child (2010)

Policy & Program Levers for Innovation

Rethinking the Core Focus of Health Care for Children

Challenges Facing Health Promotion in the Context of Health Care Reform

Recognize that efforts to expand health insurance

and reduce inequalities in access and treatment

within the medical care system do not address the

fundamental causes of disparities in health related

to social class, race, and ethnicity.

Leverage advances in neuroscience, molecular

biology, genomics, and the behavioral and social

sciences to enhance our capacity to promote health

and prevent disease, not just to treat illness.

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