ACES AND  DECLARATIVE  MEMORY   2

There is a considerable amount of research linking adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to poor mental and physical outcomes in adulthood. Little research, however, has examined how these adverse childhood experiences effect children. Early stress has been found to have a lasting effect on brain structure, particularly in areas of the brain linked to declarative memory functioning in adults. Children who have experienced traumatizing events have been found to show impaired declarative memory functioning. However, this finding of early memory impairment continues to be a topic of debate as some findings have shown this relationship is only apparent in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the number of ACEs a child reports and their declarative memory functioning while controling for IQ. Data was collected in children between the ages of 7 and 16 in a low SES community. Additionally, we wanted to determine if PTSD symptoms moderate the relationship between ACEs and declarative memory. Finally, because research investigating children and ACEs is so scarce, it was important to determine if measuring self-report ACEs in children is feasible and valid. Results (N=29) showed a significant relationship between ACEs and memory functioning. However, PTSD was not found as a moderator in this relationship. A significant association was found between the number of ACEs and PTSD syptoms reported, demonstrating the validity of children’s self-reported data of this nature. This finding shows that memory deficits in children who have experienced cumulative stress are apparent in childhood suggesting a need for early intervention