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Two new studies add to our knowledge of long-term outcomes following childhood adversity.
Sumner and colleagues built on work showing that DNA methylation (DNAm) correlates with biological age (Genome Biol 2013; 14:3156). Eight types of early life adversities were examined in 247 participants aged 8 to 16 years (mean age, 13; 48% female); the four types of threats were experienced by 25% to 46% of participants, and the four types of deprivation were experienced by 16% to 28%. Participants with threat histories had evidence of advanced aging, per DNAm results, and early puberty, according to Tanner staging. In contrast, participants with histories of deprivation had typical DNAm and delayed puberty.
Another study was informed by preclinical wo…