biostudies-literatureDuchowny KANCATS NIH HHSNIA NIH HHSeadj6411https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10917337biostudies-literatureUnknown10(10)Social stress experienced in childhood is associated with adverse health later in life. Mitochondrial function has been implicated as a mechanism for how stressful life events "get under the skin" to influence physical well-being. Using data from the Study of Muscle, Mobility, and Aging (<i>n</i> = 879, 59% women), linear models examined whether adverse childhood events (i.e., physical abuse) were associated with two measures of skeletal muscle mitochondrial energetics in older adults: (i) maximal adenosine triphosphate production (ATP_max) and (ii) maximal state 3 respiration (Max OXPHOS). Forty-five percent of the sample reported experiencing one or more adverse childhood events. After adjustment, each additional event was associated with -0.08 SD (95% confidence interval = -0.13, -0.02) lower ATP_max. No association was observed with Max OXPHOS. Adverse childhood events are associated with lower ATP production in later life. Findings indicate that mitochondrial function may be a mechanism for understanding how early social stress influences health in later life.Science advancesChildhood adverse life events and skeletal muscle mitochondrial function.PMC10917337P30 AG021332R01 AG059416R00 AG066846UL1 TR001420R56 AG059416P30 AG024827Molina AJAHepple RTKramer PAKritchevsky SBCoen PMDuchowny KACummings SRDiaz-Ramierz LGToledo FGSNewman ABMarcinek DJLui LYCawthon PMMau TfalseChildhood adverse life events and skeletal muscle mitochondrial function.Social stress experienced in childhood is associated with adverse health later in life. Mitochondrial function has been implicated as a mechanism for how stressful life events "get under the skin" to influence physical well-being. Using data from the Study of Muscle, Mobility, and Aging (<i>n</i> = 879, 59% women), linear models examined whether adverse childhood events (i.e., physical abuse) were associated with two measures of skeletal muscle mitochondrial energetics in older adults: (i) maximal adenosine triphosphate production (ATP_max) and (ii) maximal state 3 respiration (Max OXPHOS). Forty-five percent of the sample reported experiencing one or more adverse childhood events. After adjustment, each additional event was associated with -0.08 SD (95% confidence interval = -0.13, -0.02) lower ATP_max. No association was observed with Max OXPHOS. Adverse childhood events are associated with lower ATP production in later life. Findings indicate that mitochondrial function may be a mechanism for understanding how early social stress influences health in later life.2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Mar2025-04-19T10:00:16.892Z2025-04-19T10:00:16.892ZS-EPMC109173373844689810.1126/sciadv.adj6411