Executive Function Improvement of Students With Adverse Childhood Experiences After an Art-Integration Program.

Abstract Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may predict markers of neurocognitive performance (i.e., executive function; EF) and brain health/plasticity (i.e., brain-derived neurotropic factor; BDNF). This pilot examined the magnitude of effects between: 1) ACES and EF performance, 2) ACEs and BDNF levels, and 3) EF performance and BDNF levels. We hypothesize that higher ACEs will be associated with poorer EF scores and lower BNDF levels and that lower EF scores will be associated with lower BDNF levels. Given the pilot nature of the study, an emphasis is placed on effect size vs. significance. Participants were 36 middle-aged women enrolled in the NICE SPACES trial (age=31.4 years, BMI=34.2, racially minoritized=37.9%). ACES were quantified using the 10-item Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale. EF was measured using the fluid cognition composite from the NIH Toolbox – Cognition Battery. BDNF was estimated using proBDNF levels estimated from serum collected via venipuncture. Higher ACEs levels were not directly associated with EF scores (b = 0.03, p = .854); but did show a meaningful negative beta coefficient with BDNF levels (b = -0.34, p = .053). EF scores and BDNF showed a positive coefficient that did not reach significance (b = .26, p = .122). In a modest pilot of middle-age women, higher ACEs were associated with lower BDNF, indicating greater adversity in childhood is linked to lower neurotrophins levels in adulthood. The lower BDNF levels may help explain poorer performance on cognitive tasks. Larger follow-up studies in more powered samples are warranted given the size of detected coefficients.

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Adverse childhood experiences, parenting, and child executive function

Early Child Development and Care ◽

10.1080/03004430.2017.1353978 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 189 (6) ◽

pp. 926-937

Author(s):

Amy E. Treat ◽

Amanda Sheffield Morris ◽

Amy C. Williamson ◽

Jennifer Hays-Grudo ◽

Debbie Laurin

Keyword(s):

Executive Function ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Adverse Childhood

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O11. Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Behavioral and Neural Markers of Executive Function in Menopausal Women

Biological Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.02.296 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 83 (9) ◽

pp. S112-S113

Author(s):

Sheila Shanmugan ◽

James Loughead ◽

Mary D. Sammel ◽

Theodore Satterthwaite ◽

Wen Cao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Executive Function ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

Menopausal Women ◽

Neural Markers

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The risk of male adult alcohol dependence: The role of the adverse childhood experiences and ecological executive function

Comprehensive Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.04.006 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 68 ◽

pp. 129-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Zengxun Liu ◽

Ying Yang ◽

Zhenchun Shi ◽

Jintong Liu ◽

Yang Wang

Keyword(s):

Executive Function ◽

Alcohol Dependence ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Male Adult ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Adverse Childhood

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Adverse Childhood Experiences and Executive Function Difficulties in Children: A Systematic Review

Child Abuse & Neglect ◽

10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104485 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 106 ◽

pp. 104485 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jessie I. Lund ◽

Elaine Toombs ◽

Abbey Radford ◽

Kara Boles ◽

Christopher Mushquash

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Executive Function ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Adverse Childhood

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Parents’ adverse childhood experiences and current relationships with their young children: the role of executive function

Early Child Development and Care ◽

10.1080/03004430.2018.1513921 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 190 (7) ◽

pp. 1042-1052 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Shannon S. Guss ◽

Amanda S. Morris ◽

Cara Bosler ◽

Sherri L. Castle ◽

Jennifer Hays-Grudo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Executive Function ◽

Young Children ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Adverse Childhood

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Current Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Mediate the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Executive Functions

Psychological Reports ◽

10.1177/0033294120979690 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 003329412097969

Author(s):

Rachel A. Maja ◽

Robyn E. Kilshaw ◽

Mauricio A. Garcia-Barrera ◽

Justin E. Karr

Keyword(s):

Executive Function ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

History Of Childhood ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

History Of ◽

The Relationship

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are both associated with lower performances on executive function tasks. However, few researchers have evaluated ACEs, posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms, and executive function difficulties in conjunction. Using an online micropayment service, the current study assessed whether PTS symptoms mediated the relationship between ACEs and executive functions. In total, 83 participants (54.2% female, age: M = 28.86, SD = 7.71) were administered the ACE questionnaire, PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and the Executive Function Index (EFI). A higher number of reported ACEs was related to greater PTS symptom severity ( β = .40, p < .001) and worse self-rated executive functions ( β = –.32, p = .002). Controlling for the number of reported ACEs, current PTS symptom severity was related to worse executive functions ( β = –.45, p < .001). A bootstrapped 95% confidence interval (CI) indicated a significant indirect effect, β = –.18 (95% CI: –.30, –.08), by which current PTS symptoms mediated the relationship between the number of reported ACEs and executive functions. These results suggest that psychological interventions targeting PTS symptoms, in the context of a history of childhood trauma, may concurrently improve executive functions in adult populations.

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