Can a sexual assault jeopardize a lady’s mind well being?

Traumatic experiences, together with sexual violence, have been linked to poor psychological and cardiovascular well being in girls as they age. A brand new examine suggests they could even be linked to indicators of cerebrovascular threat which may be precursors to dementia, stroke, and different mind issues. Examine outcomes shall be offered throughout The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) Annual Assembly in Washington, DC, September 22-25, 2021.

So far, little analysis has been accomplished relative to the connection between traumatic experiences (notably, sexual assault) and indicators of small vessel illness within the mind, which might result in cerebrovascular ailments comparable to stroke. A brand new examine out of the College of Pittsburgh, nevertheless, particularly investigated whether or not traumatic experiences had been related to white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), that are markers of mind small vessel illness. WMHs may be detected many years earlier than the onset of dementia, stroke, and different issues and may function early markers for these issues.

Of the almost 150 midlife girls concerned within the examine, 68% reported having a minimum of one trauma, with the most typical trauma being sexual assault (23% of the ladies). After evaluating the information, researchers concluded that girls with trauma publicity had higher WMH quantity than girls with out trauma. The actual trauma considerably related to WMH was sexual assault. Associations between sexual assault and WMHs endured even after adjusting for depressive or post-traumatic stress signs, suggesting that sexual assault could put girls at higher threat for poor mind well being.

“The outcomes of this examine are noteworthy in that sexual assault is an unlucky, but all-too-common, expertise for girls; nationwide information point out that, on common, as much as a 3rd of girls have had this expertise. This distressing expertise isn’t solely essential for girls’s psychological well being, but additionally their mind well being. This work is a significant step towards figuring out a novel threat issue for stroke and dementia amongst girls,” says Dr. Rebecca Thurston from the College of Pittsburgh and lead writer of the examine. “Not solely do these outcomes underscore the necessity for higher prevention of sexual assault, but additionally present healthcare professionals with one other indicator of who could also be at most threat for stroke and dementia later in life.”

“Figuring out early warning indicators of stroke and dementia are vital to offering efficient intervention,” says Dr. Stephanie Faubion, NAMS medical director. “Research like this one present essential details about the long-term results of traumatic experiences on a lady’s general well-being and psychological well being.”