Research

• Seven of the ten leading causes of death in the U.S. have been linked to toxic stress.
  
• Over 250 million children are at risk of not achieving developmental potential
  
• In 2018, 29 million babies were born into conflict-affected areas
  
• Only 60 percent of children receive early stimulation and responsive care from caregivers or parents
  
• Between 3-5 percent of violent acts can attribute to mental disorders
  
• People with cognitive disorders are ten times more likely to be victims of violent acts  

In 1998, Kaiser Permanente and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) joined forces to conduct one of the largest studies ever conducted known as the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACEs). Researchers found:

 Individuals with 3+ ACEs

• three times more likely to fail
• five times more likely to have severe attendance problems
• six times more likely to have severe behavior problems 

 Individuals with 4+ ACEs

• Twelve times more likely to attempt suicide
• Two and a half times more likely to develop obstructive pulmonary disease
• Two and a half times more likely to develop hepatitis
• Four and a half times more likely to develop depression

 Individuals with 6+ ACEs

• Decrease in life expectancy of up to twenty years

 Individuals with 7+ ACEs

• Three times the risk of developing lung cancer 
• Three and a half times the risk of developing ischemic heart disease