Childhood trauma may leave a lasting “scar” inside brain cells
Researchers have identified a biological mechanism where childhood trauma alters how DNA is packaged within brain cells, specifically in the ventral tegmental area. This 'scar' makes stress-related genes easier to activate, potentially explaining the long-term link between early adversity and mental health disorders.
Why it matters
Identifying a physical biological target for the effects of trauma could lead to more effective, targeted medical interventions for anxiety and depression.
Severe stress during childhood can increase a person's vulnerability to anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders when new challenges arise later in life. Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Princeton University have now identified a biological process that may help explain how early trauma can have such long-lasting effects on the brain.
Researchers have known that stress during early development can alter gene activity in the brain. The new findings suggest that these changes stem partly from the way brain cells package their DNA. By making certain stress-related genes easier to activate, early adversity may leave the brain more reactive and less able to tolerate future stress.
The study was published Aug. 7 in Neuron .
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