Exploring the neural effects of adverse childhood experiences through the retina

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with developing systemic diseases and mental illnesses, affecting multiple body systems, including those that affect allostasis, such as the immune, endocrine, and nervous systems. Numerous different biomarkers reflect the biological manifestations of ACEs across these systems and point to possible mechanisms of pathology following early adversity. Retinal layer thickness values and retinal microvasculature parameters, which may reflect central nervous system structure and function, have scarcely been explored in relation to early life stress in humans but could potentially be valuable indicators of early life adversity sequelae. Animal models of early life stress using rodents demonstrate that early adversity is associated with structural and functional alterations of the retina. Thus, given the widespread impact of ACEs across several different allostatic systems in the body, including the central nervous system of which the retina is a part, and evidence in animal models suggesting a relationship between early life stress and retinal alterations, the retina is likely to be affected by ACEs in humans. Retinal biomarkers may also represent especially feasible methods for exploring the effects of early adversity on the body, as they can be examined in vivo using optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography (OCTA), and electroretinography (ERG), which are quick and noninvasive retinal imaging and electrophysiological techniques. Therefore, future research should focus on the impact of ACEs on the retina in humans and what retinal changes predict in terms of symptoms, course, and functional impairment associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes. This can further our understanding of the pathological mechanisms of diseases and disorders that individuals with ACEs are at risk of developing.