New Research Suggests That People Who Experience Childhood Trauma Exhibit Reduced Muscle Function In Older Age

Past research has shown that individuals who face adversity during childhood are more likely to develop mental health disorders by the time they reach adulthood. But now, a new study suggests that childhood traumas may also impact physical health in a person’s later years.
The findings revealed that elderly individuals who experienced childhood trauma exhibit reduced muscle metabolism. The researchers were able to measure this link by analyzing mitochondrial activity in skeletal muscles, highlighting a notable correlation between early life stress and subsequent physical decline.
Again, past studies have repeatedly demonstrated that childhood stress can result in a variety of health issues later in life. Yet, the precise mechanisms behind this link aren’t fully known.
However, the answer may be found by researching mitochondrial function – the vital cell powerhouses responsible for generating the energy essential for cellular processes. Mitochondria display dynamic responses to psychological stress, potentially influencing their function and adding to age-related health challenges.
So, due to the limitations in current research, Kate Duchowny, a scientist at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, led this study and sought to directly examine the effects of childhood stress on mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle over the course of aging.
To begin, the researchers leveraged data from the Study of Muscle, Mobility, and Aging (SOMMA), which involved participants sourced from various institutions such as the University of Pittsburgh and Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
The selection criteria were also meticulously defined. Participants needed to be 70 years old or older, possess a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or below, exhibit no signs of dementia, and be able to undergo both muscle tissue biopsy and magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Furthermore, they were required to demonstrate the capability to walk a distance of 400 meters to make sure each participant had a specific level of physical mobility.
Then, the researchers conducted an in-depth clinical evaluation of each participant. This included providing samples of muscle and fat tissue, and the samples played a vital role in directly evaluating mitochondrial function within skeletal muscle.

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Next, participants filled out comprehensive questionnaires, which included a modified version of the Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire. This tool is tailored to record diverse aspects of childhood adversity, encompassing neglect, emotional and physical abuse, and household dysfunction.
The study’s most notable discovery was that individuals who reported experiencing more adverse events during childhood showed reduced levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in their muscle tissues. ATP plays a key role in cellular energy, and its level of production serves as a direct indicator of both mitochondrial efficiency and health.
This result is significant as it connects early emotional and physical stressors to precise physiological consequences that carry substantial implications for both health and aging.
After all, diminished mitochondrial function can lead to diminished endurance, decreased muscle strength, and an increased susceptibility to frailty among older adults.
“What these results suggest is that these early formative childhood experiences have the ability to get under the skin and influence skeletal muscle mitochondria, which is important because mitochondria function is related to a host of aging-related outcomes,” Duchowny explained.
“If you have compromised mitochondrial function, that doesn’t bode well for a range of health outcomes, including everything from chronic conditions to physical function and disability limitations.”
Additionally, the research revealed that the detrimental effect of childhood adversity on the production of ATP was more noticeable in men compared to women. This gender disparity implies that early life stress might interact with biological mechanisms in distinct ways among men and women, possibly influenced by physiological, hormonal, or social factors.
The findings also retained statistical significance even following adjustments for various potential influencing factors, such as age, parental educational background, and the education level of each participant.
So, these adjustments only bolster the credibility of the link between childhood adversity and mitochondrial dysfunction, indicating that the connection remains strong in spite of differences in age-related or socioeconomic influences.
“All of my previous studies have been focused on contemporaneous measures: mitochondria and physical function, mitochondria and cognitive function. These studies have shown that these measures are strongly related to our strength, fitness, and numerous conditions that impact physical ability,” said Anthony Molina, one of the study’s co-authors.
“I’ve also shown that these measures are related to cognitive ability and dementia. But here’s the first time we’re looking backward at what kinds of things could lead to those differences in mitochondrial function that we know can drive differences in healthy aging outcomes among older adults.”
Still, there were some limitations to this research. Primarily, the data was collected at one point in time, being that it was cross-sectional, so it’s hard to determine causality.
Secondly, the way participants remember their childhood experiences might not be completely accurate due to recall bias.
Finally, the group of participants studied was mostly comprised of older, white, and well-educated people, which may limit the findings’ applicability to the general public.
So, in the future, additional research should follow people over time to better understand how early stress affects health later on.
It should also include more diverse groups of people and use different biological measures to gain a clearer understanding.
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in Science Advances, visit the link here.
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