It's been more than 15 years since a team of researchers, led by a California physician, identified how traumatic events in childhood can be associated with risk factors for the leading causes of death later in life.
The team referred to the traumatic events they assessed -- including emotional, physical or sexual abuse, as well as household dysfunction -- as "adverse childhood experiences" or ACEs.
It's a straightforward 10-question quiz of abuse and neglect. The more times you answer "yes," the greater your risk of physical health as an adult.
It's taken awhile for the idea that ACEs can profoundly shape adult health to take hold. But over the last few years, the concept of ACEs have entered more mainstream conversations. Still, there's no recommended screening. A new Bay Area research collaboration wants to change that.
The San Francisco Center for Youth and Wellness, in partnership with researchers at UC San Francisco children's hospitals in both San Francisco and Oakland have teamed up to launch a multi-year study to evaluate screening for ACEs in primary care settings.