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Dimensions of Early-Life Adversity Are Differentially Associated With Patterns of Delayed and Accelerated Brain
Dani Beck1, Lucy Whitmore2, Niamh MacSweeney1
1PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Different types of early-life adversity (ELA) uniquely impact brain development. Emotional neglect is linked to younger-appearing brains, while other adversities like trauma and socioeconomic disadvantage are associated with older-appearing brains.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Early-life adversity (ELA) impacts children's brain development.
- Disparate effects of distinct ELA types on the developing brain are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate neural correlates of 10 ELA dimensions.
- Understand how different ELA types influence brain structure and function.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study.
- Employed brain age models on T1-weighted, diffusion tensor, and resting-state functional MRI data.
- Analyzed 10 ELA dimensions using Bayesian multilevel modeling.
Main Results:
- Emotional neglect dimensions (e.g., lack of caregiver support) correlated with younger brain age gaps.
- Dimensions like caregiver psychopathology, trauma, and socioeconomic disadvantage correlated with older brain age gaps.
- Distinct ELA types show differential associations with brain age.
Conclusions:
- ELA dimensions are differentially linked to neurodevelopmental patterns.
- Findings suggest dimension-specific delays and accelerations in brain maturation.
- Highlights the need for tailored interventions based on ELA type.
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