The Relationship among Interleukin-6 during, Childhood Trauma, and Alcohol Intake, and Cognitive Behavior Changes
Disciplines
Biological Psychology | Clinical Psychology | Cognitive Psychology | Experimental Analysis of Behavior
Abstract (300 words maximum)
My study is to explore the relationship among IL-6, childhood trauma, and alcohol use and cognitive behavior changes. Childhood trauma is prevalent in U.S. with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reporting that about two-thirds of adults have at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) and one-sixth of them have four or more ACEs (CDC, 2023). Elevated IL-6 levels are one possible mechanism by which childhood trauma could influence adult physical and psychological well-being (Carpenter et al., 2010). Childhood trauma and elevated IL-6 levels have each been shown to predict adult health outcomes, like alcohol dependence (AD) (Schwandt et al., 2012). Additionally, recent studies show IL-6 has been found to be correlated with suicidal behavior. (Bramness et al., 2023). Therefore, increased IL-6 is associated with childhood trauma and high alcohol intake, which may result in cognitive decline and behavior changes. We administered questionnaires including the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE) and collected saliva samples. We also measured working memory using a computerized STROOP task. Preliminary results (N = 93) show a positive relationship between adverse childhood experiences and alcohol consumption, r(91) = .429, p < .001, though data collection is ongoing.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - Psychological Science
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Erica Holliday
Additional Faculty
Cody Mashburn, Psychological Science, cmashb10@kennesaw.edu
The Relationship among Interleukin-6 during, Childhood Trauma, and Alcohol Intake, and Cognitive Behavior Changes
My study is to explore the relationship among IL-6, childhood trauma, and alcohol use and cognitive behavior changes. Childhood trauma is prevalent in U.S. with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reporting that about two-thirds of adults have at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) and one-sixth of them have four or more ACEs (CDC, 2023). Elevated IL-6 levels are one possible mechanism by which childhood trauma could influence adult physical and psychological well-being (Carpenter et al., 2010). Childhood trauma and elevated IL-6 levels have each been shown to predict adult health outcomes, like alcohol dependence (AD) (Schwandt et al., 2012). Additionally, recent studies show IL-6 has been found to be correlated with suicidal behavior. (Bramness et al., 2023). Therefore, increased IL-6 is associated with childhood trauma and high alcohol intake, which may result in cognitive decline and behavior changes. We administered questionnaires including the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE) and collected saliva samples. We also measured working memory using a computerized STROOP task. Preliminary results (N = 93) show a positive relationship between adverse childhood experiences and alcohol consumption, r(91) = .429, p < .001, though data collection is ongoing.