
Different types of early-life adversity have been associated with childrens brain structure and function. However, understanding the disparate influence of distinct adversity exposures on the developing brain remains a major challenge. This study investigates the neural correlates of 10 robust dimensions of early-life adversity identified through exploratory factor analysis in a large community sample of youth from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. Brain age models were trained, validated, and tested separately on T1-weighted (T1; N = 9524), diffusion tensor (DTI; N = 8834), and resting-state functional (rs-fMRI; N = 8233) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from two time points (mean age = 10.7 years, SD = 1.2, range = 8.9-13.8 years). Bayesian multilevel modelling supported distinct associations between different types of early-life adversity exposures and younger- and older-looking brains. Dimensions generally related to emotional neglect, such as lack of primary and secondary caregiver support, and lack of caregiver supervision, were associated with lower brain age gaps (BAGs), i.e., younger-looking brains. In contrast, dimensions generally related to caregiver psychopathology, trauma exposure, family aggression, substance use and separation from biological parent, and socio-economic disadvantage and neighbourhood safety were associated with higher BAGs, i.e., older-looking brains. The findings suggest that dimensions of early-life adversity are differentially associated with distinct neurodevelopmental patterns, indicative of dimension-specific delayed and accelerated brain maturation.
Male, Humans; Male; Female; Adverse Childhood Experiences; Adolescent; Child; Brain/growth & development; Brain/diagnostic imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Bayes Theorem; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; ABCD Study; Adolescence; Brain age; Development; Early-life adversity; MRI, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Adolescent, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Humans, Brain, Female, Bayes Theorem, Child, Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male, Humans; Male; Female; Adverse Childhood Experiences; Adolescent; Child; Brain/growth & development; Brain/diagnostic imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Bayes Theorem; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; ABCD Study; Adolescence; Brain age; Development; Early-life adversity; MRI, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Adolescent, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Humans, Brain, Female, Bayes Theorem, Child, Magnetic Resonance Imaging
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 20 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
