Women who have been sexually assaulted have a higher risk of developing brain damage linked to cognitive decline, dementia and stroke.
- On average, the number of women aged 18 to 75 who, over the course of a year, are victims of physical and/or sexual violence committed by their spouse or ex-spouse, is estimated at 213,000 in France.
- 7 out of 10 female victims say they have suffered repeated acts.
Sexual assault leaves long-term scars. Among them, American researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have identified a higher risk of developing brain damage linked to cognitive decline, dementia and strokes. They presented their results during the annual meeting of the North American Menopause Society which is currently taking place.
A long-term impact
The long-term negative consequences relate to any type of sexual assault. “It can be sexual abuse in childhood or sexual assault in adulthoodsays Rebecca Thurston, lead author of the study. Based on demographics, most women experience sexual assault in their early teens and early adult years. So these are probably early experiences that we see the marks of later in life..”
This research adds to previous studies that have shed light on the long-term impact of sexual assault on the body and mind. These showed that sexual trauma was linked to higher levels of triglycerides and blood pressure in midlife and a three times higher risk of developing carotid plaque, all key risk factors for heart disease. Women victims of sexual assault are also three times more likely to suffer from depression and twice as likely to have significant anxiety and insomnia. “We need to keep our focus on this issue of sexual violence against women, as it continues to be a major women’s health issue.”, insists Rebecca Thurston.
White matter hyperintensities
In this new study, which will soon be published in the scientific journal Brain Imaging and Behavior, the authors looked for signs of white matter hyperintensity in brain scans of 145 women with no history of cardiovascular disease, stroke or dementia. White matter hyperintensities, which show up as small white spots on MRIs, are markers of blood flow disturbances that have caused brain damage. Among the participants, 68% suffered a trauma, including 23% for whom this trauma was a sexual assault.
The results identified greater white matter hyperintensities in the brains of women with a history of sexual assault. “It is an indicator of small vessel disease linked to stroke, dementia, cognitive decline and mortality”, revealed the lead author of the study.
Traces of trauma
The researchers controlled for other factors that may affect the development of white matter hyperintensities, such as age, hypertension, smoking, and diabetes. They also controlled for emotional disturbances, including depression, anxiety and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The increase in white matter hyperintensities”was not explained by these subjective symptoms of distresssaid Rebecca Thurston. It’s almost as if the body has a memory that may not fully manifest itself in psychological symptoms. Sexual assault also leaves traces of trauma in our brains and bodies..”
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