AUTHOR=Shaw Michael T. , Pawlak Natalie O. , Frontario Ariana , Sherman Kathleen , Krupp Lauren B. , Charvet Leigh E. 

TITLE=Adverse Childhood Experiences Are Linked to Age of Onset and Reading Recognition in Multiple Sclerosis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2017

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2017.00242

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2017.00242

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Abstract

Background: Adverse childhood experiences exert a psychological and physiological toll that increases risk of chronic conditions, poorer social functioning, and cognitive impairment in adulthood. 

Objective: To investigate the relationship between childhood adversity and clinical disease features in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: Sixty-seven participants with MS completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) assessment and neuropsychological assessments as part of a larger clinical trial of cognitive remediation. 

Results: ACE scores, a measure of exposure to adverse events in childhood, significantly predicted age of MS onset (r= 0.30, p=0.04). ACE’s were also linked to reading recognition (a proxy for premorbid IQ); (r= 0.25, p=0.04).   ACE scores were not related to age, current disability, or current level of cognitive impairment measured by the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT).

Conclusion: Childhood adversity may increase the likelihood of earlier age of onset and poorer estimated premorbid IQ in MS.