2026 American Academy of Neurology Abstract Website

Objective:

This study aims to investigate the presence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in individuals diagnosed with pediatric-onset demyelinating diseases.

Background:

There is very little data about the prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences in pediatric-onset demyelinating disorders and its impact on disease burden.

Design/Methods:

In this ongoing cross-sectional survey, 186 participants were included (105 with demyelinating disease, 81 controls. Participants with pediatric-onset demyelinating disorders including MS, NMOSD, MOGAD, and controls were included in this study. Participants were recruited from neurology clinics and national support groups. Controls were university students, along with support groups member’s friends and family. Participants completed a modified ACE questionnaire and demographic, diagnostic, and relapse items were collected. Analyses included odds ratios, Kruskal–Wallis with Dunn’s post-hoc, ANCOVA, multiple linear, and multinomial logistic regressions.

Results:

Controls reported significantly higher ACEs as compared with MOGAD (p=0.005) and ADEM (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the ACE scores when comparing the demyelinating vs control group (t= -1.297, p= 0.196). MOGAD participants had significantly lower odds of high ACEs compared to controls (OR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.014-0.987, p < 0.0049). This remained consistent even after controlling for SES, protective factors, and biological sex.

Conclusions:

There was no significant difference in the ACE scores between the demyelinating and control groups. Further investigation should be conducted to look at the ACE prevalence within specific demyelinating disease subtypes, as suggested by our interesting finding of MOGAD patients having lower ACE scores as compared to controls.