What is the ACE Study?
The ACE Study is an ongoing collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and Kaiser Permanente. Led by Co-principal Investigators Robert F. Anda, MD,
MS, and Vincent J. Felitti, MD, the ACE Study is perhaps the largest scientific research study
of its kind, analyzing the relationship between multiple categories of childhood trauma
(ACEs), and health and behavioral outcomes later in life.
The ACE Study is an ongoing collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and Kaiser Permanente. Led by Co-principal Investigators Robert F. Anda, MD,
MS, and Vincent J. Felitti, MD, the ACE Study is perhaps the largest scientific research study
of its kind, analyzing the relationship between multiple categories of childhood trauma
(ACEs), and health and behavioral outcomes later in life.
- Recurrent physical abuse
- Recurrent emotional abuse
- Contact sexual abuse
- An alcohol and/or drug abuser in the
household - An incarcerated household member
- Someone who is chronically depressed,
mentally ill, institutionalized, or suicidal - Mother is treated violently
- One or no parents
- Emotional or physical neglect
The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study:
Bridging the gap between childhood trauma and negative consequences later in life.
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What's an ACE?
Growing up experiencing any of the following conditions in the household prior to age 18:
Growing up experiencing any of the following conditions in the household prior to age 18:
| V. J. Felitti, MD Kaiser Permanente |
| R. F. Anda, MD, MS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
The ACE Score
The ACE Study used a simple scoring method to determine the extent of each study
participant's exposure to childhood trauma. Exposure to one category (not incident) of ACE,
qualifies as one point. When the points are added up, the ACE Score is achieved. An ACE
Score of 0 (zero) would mean that the person reported no exposure to any of the categories
of trauma listed as ACEs above. An ACE Score of 9 would mean that the person reported
exposure to all of the categories of trauma listed above. The ACE Score is referred to
throughout all of the peer-reviewed publications about the ACE Study findings.
The ACE Study used a simple scoring method to determine the extent of each study
participant's exposure to childhood trauma. Exposure to one category (not incident) of ACE,
qualifies as one point. When the points are added up, the ACE Score is achieved. An ACE
Score of 0 (zero) would mean that the person reported no exposure to any of the categories
of trauma listed as ACEs above. An ACE Score of 9 would mean that the person reported
exposure to all of the categories of trauma listed above. The ACE Score is referred to
throughout all of the peer-reviewed publications about the ACE Study findings.
| What's YOUR ACE Score? Help me calculate my ACE Score. The ACE Study is based upon data collected from over 17,000 adult participants, and no new study participants are being accepted. However, you might like to know your own ACE Score, so that the information you read about the Study is more meaningful to you. |
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