Study: Aging accelerates in children exposed to abuse

The study compared 36 abused children aged 4 to 5 with 60 healthy peers. Advanced DNA methylation analysis revealed that the abused children experienced significantly faster cellular aging compared to their chronological age.

CELLULAR AGING IS FASTER

Researchers used a new technique called the "Pediatric-Buccal-Epigenetic Clock" on buccal samples from children. This analysis examined 94 different regions across 65 genes and identified a pattern of accelerated biological aging in abused children.

All abused children had experienced severe abuse or neglect requiring intervention by Child Protective Services and had been removed from their families and placed in foster care.

According to the research, these differences in cellular aging in early childhood can pave the way for early puberty and developmental problems later in life.

Researched with eye-tracking technology

The study also examined children's social behavior using eye-tracking technology. The findings showed that children who were abused made significantly less eye contact during face-to-face interactions. This decreased eye contact suggests fundamental differences in how children process social information.

Eye-tracking tests measured children's gaze patterns in various social scenarios, including facial expressions, interactions with people and geometric patterns, biological movements, and pointing. Differences were only evident in face-to-face interactions.

The results revealed that children who were abused looked less at the eyes and other parts of the face than their healthy peers.

Decreased eye contact has been associated with behavioral and emotional difficulties.

Social and emotional problems were even more pronounced in children exposed to more than one type of abuse.

Accelerated aging and decreased eye contact independently predicted behavioral difficulties.

CALL FOR EARLY INTERVENTION

The researchers emphasize that these accelerated biological aging and changes in social behavior are independent effects and not due to a single cause. "Our research strongly suggests that child abuse leaves invisible but measurable scars on both a child's biology and social development," said Keiko Ochiai, a graduate student who led the study. "By identifying these early warning signs, we can offer more targeted support."

The researchers also point out that these findings may be associated with longer-term risks such as chronic diseases and premature death in adulthood.