Abuse in childhood linked to adult illness

Dr. Vincent Felitti is studying what he calls "reverse alchemy" -- how the gold of childhood can be turned into the lead of adult ill health by abuse, family alcoholism and violence.

So far, his study of 17,421 adults from Kaiser Permanente’s Department of Preventive Medicine in San Diego, Calif., has shown that adverse childhood experiences are vastly more common than recognized and have a powerful relation to adult health a half-century later.

Felitti says his findings should shape the future practice of medicine. He will be the keynote speaker at the Family Policy Council’s Network Partners’ Summit Nov. 17-19 in Silverdale, Wash. For information on the summit, click here.