Can abuse, violence and neglect during childhood affect a person’s physical and mental health later in life? United States health officials say the answer to that question is “yes.” Researchers with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that childhood trauma can lead to many conditions and illnesses in adulthood. Traumatic experiences can also lead to a lower quality of life. Researchers found that such events can lead to fewer educational and employment opportunities in the future. The director of the CDC is Robert Redfield. In a statement, he writes “we now know that adverse childhood experiences” greatly affect “an individual’s future health."