The New Orleans Times-Picayune (6/17, Castellano) reports a recent study published in Pediatrics indicates family violence can incite “critical DNA changes that could hasten mental and physical illness” in children. After studying children in the New Orleans, Louisiana, area, “Children ages five to 15 who witnessed family violence, experienced a family member’s suicide or had a family member incarcerated were more likely to undergo cellular aging as evidenced by a shortening of the tips of their chromosomes, the study showed.” The article notes the NIH provided lead study author Dr. Stacy Drury with “$2.4 million to study how families can help prevent such health declines in children related to violence.”
Related Links:
— “Childhood family violence alters DNA, Tulane study of New Orleans kids shows,” Rebecca Catalanello, New Orleans Times-Picayune, June 16, 2014.