Sexual assault linked to brain damage later in life, study finds

“It could be either childhood sexual abuse or adult sexual assault,” said study author Rebecca Thurston, professor and director of the Women’s Biobehavioral Health Laboratory at the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh.

“Based on population data, most women have their sexual assault in early adolescence and early adulthood,” she added, “so these are likely early experiences that we will see traces of later in life.”

The new study, presented Thursday at the North American Menopause Society’s annual meeting, complements a growing body of research into the long-term effects of sexual assault on the mind and body.

“We need to focus our attention on this issue of sexual violence against women and not make it disappear from society’s radar because it continues to be a major health concern for women,” Thurston said.

Previous studies have shown that sexual trauma is linked to higher levels of triglycerides and blood pressure in midlife and a three-fold higher risk of developing carotid plaques, all major risk factors for heart disease. In addition, a 2018 study conducted by Thurston found that women who reported previous sexual assault were three times more likely to experience depression and twice as likely to experience increased anxiety and insomnia than women with no history of sexual trauma. Depression, anxiety, and insomnia are all linked to poorer health outcomes, including heart disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC statistics also show that more than 1 in 3 women in the US (and 1 in 4 men) experience sexual assault at least once in their life. Given the widespread impact, Thurston said, doctors should ask their patients about previous sexual trauma and then carefully monitor a woman’s cardiovascular risk as she ages.

Women who have been sexually traumatized should also feel empowered to speak up and tell their doctors about it, she added.

“Be sure to share this information with your healthcare providers,” Thurston said. “This is not your fault, so please let us know what you would like to divulge. It is important information that has an impact on your physical health and your emotional well-being. “

Look into the brain

The new study, soon to be published in the journal Brain Imaging and Behavior, looked for signs of white matter hyperintensities in the brain scans of 145 mid-life women with no history of cardiovascular disease, stroke, or dementia. However, 68% of the participants had experienced trauma and 23% of the women were sexually assaulted.

White matter hyperintensities, which show up as tiny white spots on MRIs, are markers of blood flow disorders that have caused damage to the brain.

“Using brain imaging, we found that women with a history of sexual assault have greater brain white matter hyperintensity, which is an indicator of small vascular disease associated with stroke, dementia, cognitive decline, and mortality in Has been linked, “said Thurston.

The study controlled other diseases and conditions that would affect the development of white matter hyperintensities, such as age, high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes. The study also controlled emotional disorders, including depression, anxiety, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The increase in white matter hyperintensities “was not explained by these subjective symptoms of stress,” Thurston said. “It’s almost like your body has a memory that may not be fully manifested through psychological symptoms. The sexual assault also leaves traces of trauma in our brain and body. “

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2021/09/22/sexual-assault-linked-to-brain-damage-later-in-life-study-finds/